Hough and Hough (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by the father, Mr Hough, against a decision of the Child Support Registrar to refuse to revoke existing percentage of care determinations. The mother, Ms Hough, was the respondent. The dispute centred on whether there had been a change to the likely pattern of care for the subject child.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the Registrar erred in refusing to revoke the existing percentage of care determinations. This required the court to consider the provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth) concerning changes to the likely pattern of care and the Registrar's obligations in such circumstances.

The court found that the Registrar had failed to properly consider the evidence before them regarding the actual and likely future pattern of care. The evidence indicated a significant shift in the child's living arrangements that had occurred and was likely to continue. Consequently, the court determined that the Registrar's decision was not supported by the evidence and that the existing percentage of care determinations should be revoked. The court set aside the decision under review and substituted its own decision.