Madsen and Child Support Registrar (Child Support)

This matter concerned an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) by the applicant, Madsen, against a decision of the Child Support Registrar. The dispute centred on whether there had been a change to the likely pattern of care of the child, which would necessitate a review and potential revocation of an existing percentage of care determination.

The primary legal issue before the AAT was to determine whether the changes to the child's care arrangements, as presented by the applicant, constituted a "change to the likely pattern of care" within the meaning of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth). Specifically, the Tribunal had to consider whether these changes were significant enough to warrant setting aside the existing percentage of care determination.

The Tribunal reasoned that minor or insignificant changes to the pattern of care do not meet the threshold for revoking an existing determination. Applying this principle, the AAT found that the evidence did not demonstrate a substantial alteration to the established care arrangements that would justify a review. Consequently, the Tribunal set aside the Registrar's decision and substituted it with its own finding.