Turrell and Turrell (Child support)

The case of *Turrell and Turrell* concerned a dispute over child support payments. The applicant, Ms. Turrell, sought to have a decision made by the Child Support Registrar reviewed. The Registrar had made an estimate of the respondent, Mr. Turrell's, adjusted taxable income for the purposes of calculating child support. Ms. Turrell contended that this estimate was incorrect. The matter came before Member Byers of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was whether the Child Support Registrar had correctly estimated Mr. Turrell's adjusted taxable income. This involved determining whether the information available to the Registrar at the time of the estimation was sufficient and properly considered, and whether the resulting estimate was reasonable in the circumstances.

Member Byers found that the Registrar's estimate of Mr. Turrell's adjusted taxable income was indeed correctly made. The Tribunal applied the principles governing the estimation of income under the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988*, which allow for estimation where a person fails to provide necessary information. The Tribunal was satisfied that the Registrar had acted within their powers and that the estimation was a reasonable reflection of the available evidence.

The Tribunal ordered that the decision under review be set aside and substituted with a new decision confirming the Registrar's estimate of adjusted taxable income.