Roylance and Roylance (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by the father, Mr Roylance, against a child support administrative assessment made by the Registrar. The dispute centred on the Registrar's decision to accept an estimate of the father's income for the purposes of calculating child support liability. The appeal was heard by the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.

The primary legal issue before the Court was whether the Registrar had erred in accepting the estimate of the father's income, and consequently, whether the administrative assessment based on that estimate should be set aside. The Court was required to consider the criteria for accepting an estimate of income under the relevant legislation and whether those criteria were met in this instance.

The Court found that the Registrar had not been provided with sufficient information to make a reliable assessment of the father's actual income. In the absence of such information, the Registrar was entitled to make an estimate. The Court reviewed the evidence presented and concluded that the estimate made by the Registrar was reasonable in the circumstances and that no error had been demonstrated. Therefore, the decision under review was set aside and substituted with the Registrar's assessment.