Romero and Romero (Child support)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal considered an application by the father, Mr Romero, concerning a child support assessment. The dispute centred on the Registrar's decision to accept an estimate of the father's income for the purposes of calculating child support payable to the mother, Ms Romero. The father sought to have this estimate refused.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was whether the Registrar had erred in accepting the estimate of the father's income, rather than refusing it. This required the Tribunal to consider the relevant provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth) and the *Child Support Assessment Act 1989* (Cth) pertaining to the estimation of a liable parent's income when their actual income cannot be readily determined.

The Tribunal affirmed the Registrar's decision, finding that the estimate of the father's income was reasonable and properly made in the circumstances. The Tribunal applied the principles that an estimate should be made where actual income cannot be ascertained and that such an estimate should be based on the best available information. In this instance, the information available to the Registrar supported the estimate made, and there was no basis to conclude that the estimate should have been refused. The Tribunal therefore affirmed the administrative assessment.