Shearman and Casey (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by the applicant, Shearman, against a decision of the Child Support Registrar concerning the assessment of child support payable to the respondent, Casey. The dispute centred on the percentage of care arrangements for the subject child.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the Registrar had erred in affirming the existing percentage of care arrangements, thereby refusing to make a revised assessment of child support. Specifically, the court was required to consider whether the evidence presented by the applicant demonstrated a sufficient change in the care arrangements to warrant a reassessment under the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988*.

The court affirmed the Registrar's decision, finding that the applicant had failed to establish a material change in the percentage of care arrangements since the last assessment. The legal principle applied was that a revised assessment of child support based on a change in care percentages requires proof of a significant and ongoing shift in the care provided to the child, which was not demonstrated on the facts before the court. The court found that the evidence did not support a departure from the existing care percentages.