Keller and Cassidy (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal to the Full Court of the Family Court of Australia regarding child support assessments. The appellants, Keller and Cassidy, sought to challenge decisions made by the Child Support Registrar concerning the percentage of care they each provided for their child. The Registrar had previously made determinations regarding the percentage of care, which the appellants sought to have revoked and new determinations made.

The primary legal issue before the Full Court was whether the Registrar had erred in law by failing to properly consider whether there had been a change to the likely pattern of care of the child. The appellants argued that the Registrar had not adequately assessed the evidence presented to them regarding a shift in the child's living arrangements and the associated care provided by each parent.

The Full Court affirmed the Registrar's decision, finding that the Registrar had indeed considered the relevant factors and evidence when determining that there was no significant change to the likely pattern of care that would warrant revoking the existing percentage of care determinations. The Court applied the principles of administrative law, emphasizing that the Registrar's role was to assess the evidence before them and make a determination based on the statutory criteria. The Court found no error in the Registrar's application of these criteria to the facts presented.