Rafiq and Rafiq (Child support)

This matter concerned an application by the father, Mr. Rafiq, to extend a child support assessment beyond the eighteenth birthday of his child. The application was made to the Child Support Registrar, who refused to grant the extension. Mr. Rafiq subsequently sought review of this decision in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was whether the Registrar had erred in refusing to extend the child support assessment beyond the child's eighteenth birthday. Specifically, the Tribunal was required to determine if there were exceptional circumstances that warranted such an extension, as contemplated by the relevant provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth).

The Tribunal affirmed the Registrar's decision, finding that no exceptional circumstances had been demonstrated. The legislation permits an extension of a child support assessment beyond a child's eighteenth birthday only in limited circumstances, such as where the child is still undertaking full-time secondary education and is not yet 19 years of age, or in cases of disability. The Tribunal concluded that Mr. Rafiq's application did not meet these criteria, and therefore, the Registrar had correctly refused the late application to extend the assessment.