Pertwee and Child Support Registrar (Child support)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) considered the matter of *Pertwee and Child Support Registrar*. The dispute concerned an application for review of a decision made by the Child Support Registrar regarding child support payments.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether the applicant, Mr Pertwee, had established that the child support assessment was an 'unjust and unreasonable' departure from the child support otherwise payable under the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth). This involved assessing whether the applicant's circumstances, as presented, warranted a departure from the standard assessment.

In reaching its decision, the Tribunal applied the principles outlined in section 117 of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth), which permits departure from a child support assessment in certain circumstances if it would be unjust and unreasonable to make the assessment. The Tribunal considered the applicant's submissions regarding his financial position and the needs of the child, weighing these against the legislative framework for child support assessments. The Tribunal found that the applicant had not discharged the onus of proving that the assessment was unjust and unreasonable.

The Tribunal affirmed the decision of the Child Support Registrar.