Masters and Child Support Registrar (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by Masters against a decision of the Child Support Registrar to refuse an objection lodged out of time. The appeal was heard by Deputy J Walsh P of the [Court Name].

The primary legal issue before the Court was whether the Registrar had erred in refusing to grant an extension of time for Masters to lodge an objection to a child support assessment. This required the Court to consider what constitutes a "reasonable explanation" for a delay in lodging such an objection, as contemplated by the relevant legislation.

Deputy J Walsh P reasoned that the Registrar's decision had failed to adequately consider the explanation provided by Masters for the delay. The Court found that the explanation offered was reasonable in the circumstances and that the Registrar had applied an overly stringent test. Consequently, the Court set aside the Registrar's decision and substituted an order granting an extension of time for the objection to be lodged.