Keller and Child Support Registrar (Child support)

The matter of *Keller and Child Support Registrar* concerned an appeal to the Magistrates Court of Victoria regarding the Child Support Registrar's refusal to grant an extension of time for the appellant, Keller, to lodge an objection. The substantive application for child support was also under review.

The primary legal issue before the Court was whether the Registrar's decision to refuse the extension of time was reviewable and, if so, whether the refusal was justified. The Court also considered the merits of the substantive child support application, as this was intrinsically linked to the request for an extension.

Magistrate Brakespeare affirmed the Registrar's decision, finding that there was no merit in the substantive application for child support. Consequently, the refusal to grant an extension of time to object was upheld. The Court applied the principles governing extensions of time in child support matters, which typically require a demonstration of a reasonable excuse for the delay and, crucially, that the objection has some prospect of success. As the substantive application lacked merit, the threshold for granting an extension was not met.