Riordan and Child Support Registrar (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal to the Full Court of the Family Court of Australia regarding a child support assessment. The appellant, Riordan, sought to challenge a decision made by the Child Support Registrar.

The primary legal issue before the Court was whether the Registrar had erred in refusing to accept a child support agreement that had been lodged by the parties. Specifically, the Court had to determine if the agreement met the requirements of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth) for registration, and if the Registrar had properly exercised their discretion in rejecting it.

Deputy J Walsh P, in delivering the judgment, considered the provisions of the Act relating to the registration of child support agreements. The Court affirmed that the Registrar has a duty to register an agreement if it meets the statutory criteria. However, the Registrar also possesses a discretion to refuse registration if the agreement is found to be contrary to the objects of the *Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989* (Cth) or if it is otherwise not in the best interests of the child. The Court analysed the specific terms of the agreement in light of these principles and the evidence before the Registrar.

The Court found that the Registrar had not erred in their assessment of the agreement and upheld the decision to refuse registration.