Hepburn and Liddell (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia regarding a decision of the Child Support Registrar. The appeal was brought by the father, Mr Hepburn, against the Registrar's decision to affirm an assessment of child support payable to the mother, Ms Liddell. The core of the dispute revolved around the percentage of care provided to the child, and whether there had been a change to the likely pattern of care.

The Court was required to determine whether the Registrar had erred in affirming the assessment of child support. Specifically, the Court had to consider whether the Registrar correctly applied the relevant provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth) and the *Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989* (Cth) in assessing the percentage of care. The central question was whether the evidence supported a finding that there had been a change to the likely pattern of care, which would necessitate a reassessment of the child support liability.

The Court affirmed the Registrar's decision, finding that the Registrar had correctly applied the law to the facts before them. The Registrar's assessment was based on the information available at the time, and the evidence did not establish a significant or lasting change to the likely pattern of care that would warrant a departure from the existing assessment. The Court found no error in the Registrar's conclusion that the criteria for varying the assessment had not been met.