McCouch and Child Support Registrar (Child support)

This matter concerned an application by McCouch for an extension of time to seek a departure determination from the Child Support Registrar. The application was heard by Member K Dordevic of the Child Support Division of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

The central legal issue before the Tribunal was whether McCouch had established sufficient grounds to warrant an extension of time for her application. This required the Tribunal to consider whether there was a satisfactory explanation for the significant delay in seeking the departure determination and whether the proposed departure application had sufficient merit to justify granting the extension, particularly in light of potential prejudice to the other parent.

Member Dordevic reasoned that McCouch had failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the lengthy delay in lodging her application for a departure determination. The Tribunal also found that the proposed departure application lacked apparent merit. Furthermore, the Tribunal considered that granting an extension of time would cause prejudice to the other parent due to the protracted delay. Consequently, the Tribunal affirmed the decision under review, which had refused the extension of time.