Parnell and Bowry (Child support)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) considered the dispute between Parnell and Bowry concerning the percentage of care arrangements for a child. The applicant, Parnell, sought to have existing percentage of care determinations revoked and new determinations made, arguing there had been a change to the likely pattern of care. The AAT affirmed the decision under review.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was whether the circumstances warranted a revocation of the existing percentage of care determinations and the making of new determinations. This required the Tribunal to assess whether there had been a change to the likely pattern of care for the child, as contemplated by the relevant provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988*.

The Tribunal's reasoning focused on the evidence presented regarding the child's living arrangements and the practical realities of care. It applied the principles governing changes to care arrangements, considering whether the observed or anticipated pattern of care differed significantly from the existing determinations. The Tribunal found that the evidence did not support a finding of a change to the likely pattern of care that would justify revoking the existing determinations and making new ones.