Rea and Child Support Registrar (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by the applicant, Rea, against a decision of the Child Support Registrar to refuse an extension of time to object to an administrative assessment of child support. The Registrar had determined that there was no satisfactory explanation for the delay in lodging the objection and that the objection lacked merit.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the Registrar's decision to refuse the extension of time was reviewable and, if so, whether that decision was correct. Specifically, the court had to consider whether Rea had demonstrated exceptional circumstances justifying an extension of time, and whether the proposed objection had sufficient merit to warrant further consideration.

The court affirmed the Registrar's decision, finding that Rea had failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the significant delay in lodging the objection. While acknowledging that the Registrar has a discretion to grant an extension of time, the court found that this discretion was not enlivened in this instance due to the lack of a compelling reason for the delay. Furthermore, the court found that the grounds of objection, as presented, did not disclose a reasonably arguable case of error in the administrative assessment.