Leonard and Reynell (Child support)

The case of *Leonard and Reynell* concerned a dispute regarding the administrative assessment of child support. The applicant, Leonard, sought to challenge the Child Support Registrar's estimate of his income for the purposes of calculating child support payable to the respondent, Reynell. The matter came before the court for review of the Registrar's decision.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the Child Support Registrar had correctly estimated the applicant's income. Specifically, the court had to determine if the estimate used in the assessment was less than the amount likely to be the applicant's actual income, and if the calculation of that estimate was accurate.

The court found that while the Registrar had correctly accepted that an estimate of the applicant's income was necessary, the subsequent calculation of that estimate was incorrect. The court applied the principles of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* concerning the estimation of income when actual income cannot be readily determined. The court determined that the decision under review was flawed due to the miscalculation.

Consequently, the court set aside the decision of the Child Support Registrar and remitted the matter back to the Registrar with directions to recalculate the estimated income and make a fresh administrative assessment.