Verey and Artell (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by the father, Verey, against a decision of the Child Support Registrar regarding child support arrears. The dispute centred on whether certain payments made by the father to third parties, specifically his parents, should be credited against his outstanding child support liability. The appeal was heard by Judicial Registrar Leonard M.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether payments made by a liable parent to a third party, who is not the payee (the mother in this instance) or the child, could be considered as satisfying or reducing the arrears of child support assessed under the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth). The court was required to interpret the provisions of the Act concerning the discharge of child support liabilities and the crediting of payments.

Judicial Registrar Leonard M affirmed the decision of the Child Support Registrar, holding that payments made to third parties, such as the father's parents, could not be credited towards the child support arrears. The reasoning was based on the principle that child support payments are intended to be made directly to the payee or through the agency of the Registrar. The Act does not provide for the discharge of a child support debt by payments made to individuals other than the payee or the Registrar, even if those payments are for the benefit of the child. The court applied the clear wording of the relevant legislative provisions, which stipulate how child support liabilities are to be satisfied.

The appeal was dismissed, and the decision of the Child Support Registrar was affirmed.