Seacole and Gusfield (Child support)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) considered the dispute between Seacole and Gusfield concerning the percentage of care arrangements for a child. Seacole sought to revoke existing percentage of care determinations, arguing that there had been a change to the likely pattern of care.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was whether the circumstances warranted a revocation of the current percentage of care determinations. This required the Tribunal to assess if there had been a material change to the likely pattern of care since the last determination was made, and if so, whether that change justified a new assessment.

The Tribunal affirmed the decision under review, finding that there was no change to the likely pattern of care that would necessitate the revocation of the existing percentage of care determinations. The Tribunal applied the principles governing changes to care arrangements under the relevant child support legislation, concluding that the evidence did not support Seacole's claim of a significant alteration in the child's living arrangements.