Ridgwell and Aston (Child support)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) considered an application by the applicant, Mr Ridgwell, to reduce a fixed annual rate of child support payable to the respondent, Ms Aston, to the minimum rate. The applicant sought this reduction on the grounds that his income was less than the parenting payment (single) amount.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was whether the applicant had demonstrated that his income was less than the parenting payment (single) amount, which would ordinarily allow for a reduction to the minimum rate of child support. The Tribunal was required to determine if the applicant's circumstances met the criteria for such a reduction under the relevant child support legislation.

The Tribunal found that the applicant's income was, in fact, more than the parenting payment (single) amount. Consequently, the applicant did not satisfy the threshold for a reduction to the minimum rate of child support. The Tribunal concluded that there were no reasonable prospects of success for the applicant's application.

The Tribunal affirmed the decisions under review, meaning the fixed annual rate of child support as originally assessed remained in place.