Tallents and Baiss (Child support)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal considered the matter of Tallents and Baiss concerning a dispute over child support. The applicant, Tallents, sought to object to a child support assessment, specifically challenging the percentage of care attributed to each parent. The core of the dispute revolved around the date from which this revised percentage of care should take effect.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether there were "special circumstances" that would permit the objection to be lodged outside the prescribed time limit. The applicant contended that such circumstances existed, justifying the late filing of their objection to the child support assessment.

The Tribunal found that no special circumstances were present that would excuse the late lodgement of the objection. Applying the relevant provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988*, the Tribunal concluded that the applicant had not demonstrated a sufficient reason for failing to lodge the objection within the statutory timeframe. Consequently, the decision under review, which affirmed the original assessment, was upheld.