Roach and Child Support Registrar (Child support)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) considered the dispute between Roach and the Child Support Registrar concerning a review of existing percentage of care determinations. The Registrar had revoked these existing determinations and made new ones, which were the subject of Roach's objection.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether there had been a change to the likely pattern of care that would justify the revocation of existing percentage of care determinations and the making of new ones. Additionally, the Tribunal had to consider whether there were special circumstances that prevented Roach from lodging the objection within the prescribed time limit.

The Tribunal found that the evidence presented demonstrated a significant and ongoing change in the likely pattern of care. This change was sufficient to warrant the revocation of the existing percentage of care determinations and the making of new ones. Furthermore, the Tribunal was satisfied that special circumstances existed, specifically the applicant's lack of understanding of the process and the timeframes involved, which prevented the objection from being lodged within the statutory period.

The Tribunal set aside the decision under review and substituted it with new percentage of care determinations.