Jent and Child Support Registrar (Child support)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) considered an application by Jent for an extension of time to object to a child support assessment made by the Child Support Registrar. The Registrar had replaced Jent's derived incomes with actual taxable incomes in the assessment.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether it had the power to grant an extension of time for Jent to object to the child support assessment, and if so, whether it should exercise that discretion in Jent's favour. The core of the dispute revolved around whether Jent had demonstrated a sufficient prospect of success in the proposed objection to warrant the granting of an extension.

The Tribunal applied the principles established in cases concerning extensions of time for objections, which generally require the applicant to show a "real prospect of success" in their substantive objection. In this instance, the Tribunal found that Jent had not provided sufficient material to demonstrate that the Registrar's decision to use actual taxable incomes was incorrect or that there was any arguable basis for challenging the assessment. Consequently, the Tribunal concluded that there was no prospect of success in the proposed objection.

The Tribunal affirmed the decision of the Child Support Registrar and refused to grant Jent an extension of time to object to the child support assessment.