Sadr and Bartoli (Child support)

The case of *Sadr and Bartoli* concerned a dispute regarding a child support administrative assessment. The applicant, Mr Sadr, sought to challenge the estimate of his income made by the Registrar of the Child Support Agency. The matter came before the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.

The primary legal issue before the Court was whether the Registrar had erred in accepting the estimate of Mr Sadr's income for the purposes of the child support assessment. Specifically, the Court was required to determine if the estimate was reasonable in the circumstances and if it should have been refused.

Justice Longo M found that the Registrar had not erred in accepting the estimate of Mr Sadr's income. The Court applied the principles governing the making of estimates under the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988*, which allow for an estimate to be made where a liable parent fails to provide sufficient information about their income. The Court was satisfied that the information available to the Registrar at the time supported the estimate made. Consequently, the Court set aside the decision under review and substituted its own decision, upholding the Registrar's estimate of income.