Royce and Hong (Child support)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) considered a dispute concerning the particulars of an administrative assessment of child support. The applicant, Mr Royce, sought to challenge the assessment, which was based on an estimated income for the respondent, Ms Hong. The core of the dispute revolved around the reconciliation of this estimated income and its impact on the child support payable.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether the child support assessment, as made by the Department of Human Services, was correct. Specifically, the AAT had to consider the adequacy of the information used to estimate Ms Hong's income and whether the reconciliation process applied by the Department was appropriate in the circumstances of the case.

In reaching its decision, the Tribunal applied the principles of administrative review under the *Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975* (Cth). It examined the evidence before the Department at the time of the assessment, including any available information regarding Ms Hong's income. The Tribunal affirmed the decision under review, finding that the Department had acted on the available information and that the estimation and reconciliation of income were conducted in accordance with the relevant provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth).