Katona and Child Support Registrar (Child support)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) considered the case of Katona and the Child Support Registrar. The dispute concerned an application for review of a decision made by the Child Support Registrar regarding the assessment of child support.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was whether the applicant, Ms. Katona, had established that the child support assessment should be departed from under section 117 of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth). Specifically, the Tribunal had to determine if the existing assessment was unjust or unreasonable in the circumstances of the case.

The Tribunal's reasoning focused on the principles of child support assessment and the grounds for departure. It considered the financial circumstances of both parties, the needs of the child, and the overall fairness of the assessment. The Tribunal applied the relevant provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth), including the criteria for establishing that an assessment is unjust or unreasonable.

The Tribunal affirmed the decision of the Child Support Registrar, finding that Ms. Katona had not discharged the onus of proving that the assessment was unjust or unreasonable. Consequently, no departure from the assessment was ordered.