Renssalaer and Errington (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by the applicant, Renssalaer, against a decision of the Child Support Registrar concerning the child support assessment for the parties' child. The dispute centred on the reconciliation of an estimated income figure used in the assessment with the actual income received by Renssalaer in the relevant child support year. Renssalaer contended that the estimated income was less than the actual income earned.

The primary legal issue before the Court was whether the estimated income used for the child support assessment accurately reflected Renssalaer's actual income for the period in question, and if not, whether the Registrar's decision to affirm the assessment was correct. This required the Court to consider the provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth) relating to the determination of income for the purposes of child support assessments, particularly where an estimate is used.

The Court affirmed the decision under review. It was found that the reconciliation process undertaken by the Registrar, which led to the affirmation of the administrative assessment, was conducted in accordance with the relevant legislative provisions. The Court was satisfied that the Registrar had properly considered the available information and applied the correct principles in determining that the estimated income was not demonstrably less than the actual income received by Renssalaer during the relevant child support year.