Streeton and Benz (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by Streeton against a decision of the Child Support Registrar concerning the administrative assessment of child support payable to Benz. The dispute centred on the Registrar's acceptance of an estimated income for Streeton for the relevant child support period.

The primary legal issue before the Court was whether the Child Support Registrar had erred in accepting the estimated income figure for Streeton when making the administrative assessment. This required the Court to consider the circumstances under which an estimate of income is permissible and the evidentiary basis required for such an estimate to be considered correct.

The Court affirmed the Registrar's decision, finding that the Registrar had correctly accepted the estimate of Streeton's income. The Court reasoned that the Registrar was entitled to make an estimate of income in the absence of sufficient information from Streeton to determine his actual income. The Registrar had acted within their powers under the relevant legislation, and the estimate was a reasonable one given the available information. The decision under review was therefore affirmed.