Wentworth and Brownlow (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by Wentworth against a decision of the Child Support Registrar concerning the percentage of care for the parties' child. Brownlow was the respondent. The Registrar had made a determination that the percentage of care for the child had changed, revoking existing percentage of care determinations and making new ones. Wentworth sought to have this decision reviewed.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the Registrar had erred in finding that there had been a change to the likely pattern of care for the child. This required the court to consider the evidence presented regarding the actual care arrangements and whether these arrangements constituted a "change" as contemplated by the relevant legislation.

The court reviewed the evidence and found that the Registrar's decision was not supported by the material before them. The court determined that the evidence did not establish a sufficient change in the pattern of care to warrant the revocation of the existing percentage of care determinations and the making of new ones. The court applied the principles of administrative law, focusing on whether the Registrar's decision was reasonable and based on proper evidence.

Consequently, the court set aside the decision of the Child Support Registrar and substituted its own determination, effectively reinstating the previous percentage of care arrangements.