Reid and Gates (Child support)

The case of *Reid and Gates (Child support)* concerned an application for a departure determination under the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth). The applicant, Reid, sought to vary an existing child support assessment. The respondent was Gates. The matter came before the court for review of a decision made by the Child Support Registrar.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether there was "new information" since the last departure determination that would justify a further departure from the child support assessment. Specifically, the court had to consider if the grounds for departure, as outlined in the legislation, were established by the applicant.

The court affirmed the Registrar's decision to refuse to make a departure determination. The reasoning applied was that the applicant had failed to demonstrate that the information presented constituted "new information" as contemplated by the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth) in circumstances where a previous departure application had already been considered and determined. The court found that the grounds for departure were not established on the facts before it.