Sennett and Child Support Registrar (Child support)

The case of *Sennett and Child Support Registrar* concerned an appeal to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia regarding a decision made by the Child Support Registrar. The dispute centred on the determination of the likely future pattern of care for a child, which is a crucial factor in calculating child support obligations. The appellant, Sennett, sought to have the Registrar's decision reviewed and set aside.

The primary legal issue before the Court was whether the Registrar had erred in determining the likely pattern of care for the child. Specifically, the Court had to consider whether the Registrar had properly applied the relevant provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth) in assessing the future care arrangements and whether this assessment was reasonable in the circumstances.

The Court's reasoning focused on the statutory requirements for determining the likely pattern of care. It was held that the Registrar must consider all relevant factors and evidence to form a reasonable assessment of future care. The Court reviewed the evidence presented and found that the Registrar's decision had not adequately taken into account certain aspects of the proposed care arrangements, leading to an unreasonable determination of the likely pattern of care. Consequently, the Court set aside the Registrar's decision and substituted its own determination of the likely pattern of care.