Hackler and Child Support Registrar (Child support)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) considered an application by Mr Hackler for an extension of time to object to a decision made by the Child Support Registrar. The Registrar had refused to grant this extension, a decision Mr Hackler sought to have reviewed by the Tribunal.

The primary legal issue before the AAT was whether the Registrar had erred in refusing to grant Mr Hackler an extension of time to lodge his objection. This required the Tribunal to consider whether Mr Hackler had provided a satisfactory explanation for the delay in lodging his objection and, importantly, whether the substantive objection itself had a reasonable prospect of success.

The Tribunal affirmed the Registrar's decision, finding that while Mr Hackler had provided some explanation for the delay, it was not sufficiently satisfactory to warrant an extension. Crucially, the Tribunal also determined that the substantive grounds of Mr Hackler's objection had no real chance of success. In weighing all relevant factors, including the lack of a satisfactory explanation for the delay and the weak prospects of the objection succeeding on its merits, the Tribunal concluded that the Registrar had correctly exercised their discretion in refusing the extension of time.