Longley and Amesbury (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by the father, Mr Longley, against a decision of the Child Support Registrar concerning the assessment of child support payable to the mother, Ms Amesbury. The dispute arose from a change in the likely pattern of care for the parties' child, which impacted the child support assessment. The appeal was heard by W Kennedy M.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the Registrar had erred in affirming the child support assessment, specifically in relation to the determination of the percentage of care provided by each parent. The court was required to consider whether the Registrar had correctly applied the relevant provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth) when assessing the change in the likely pattern of care.

The court affirmed the Registrar's decision, finding that the Registrar had properly considered the evidence before them regarding the change in the likely pattern of care. The Registrar had applied the correct legal principles in assessing the percentage of care, and there was no basis to interfere with that assessment. The court was satisfied that the Registrar's decision was open to them on the evidence presented.