Rodden and Child Support Registrar (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by Rodden against a decision of the Child Support Registrar concerning the percentage of care for a child. The dispute centred on whether there had been a change to the likely pattern of care for the child, which would necessitate a reassessment of the care percentage. The appeal was heard by R Ellis SM in the Magistrates Court.

The primary legal issue before the Court was to determine whether the Registrar’s decision to affirm the existing percentage of care was correct, given the appellant’s assertion of a change in the likely pattern of care. This required the Court to consider the relevant provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth) and the principles governing the assessment of care percentages.

The Court affirmed the Registrar's decision, finding that the evidence did not establish a change to the likely pattern of care that would warrant a reassessment. The Court applied the principle that a change must be significant and likely to persist to justify an alteration in the care percentage. Without sufficient evidence demonstrating such a change, the existing assessment remained appropriate.