Minett and Mayes (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by Minett (the applicant) against a decision of the Child Support Registrar concerning the percentage of care for the parties' child. The dispute centred on whether there had been a change to the likely pattern of care for the child, which would justify revoking existing percentage of care determinations and making new ones. The appeal was heard by J Thomson M.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the Registrar had erred in revoking the existing percentage of care determinations and making new ones, specifically whether the evidence supported a finding that there had been a change to the likely pattern of care. The court was also required to consider the date from which any new percentage of care determination should take effect and whether there were any special circumstances that warranted a departure from the usual rules regarding the date of effect.

J Thomson M affirmed the decision of the Child Support Registrar. The court found that the evidence presented demonstrated a significant and ongoing change in the child's living arrangements, which constituted a change to the likely pattern of care. The Registrar had correctly applied the relevant provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* in revoking the previous determinations and making new ones based on the altered pattern of care. The court also determined that there were no special circumstances to justify making the new percentage of care determination retrospective beyond the date of the application for review.