Wilshere and Portlock (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by Wilshere against a decision of the Child Support Registrar regarding the particulars of an administrative assessment. Portlock was the other party. The dispute centred on whether an estimate reconciliation conducted by the Registrar was correct. The appeal was heard by Member Y Webb.

The primary legal issue before the Member was whether the Child Support Registrar had erred in conducting an estimate reconciliation, and consequently, whether the resulting administrative assessment was accurate. This required the Member to consider the proper application of the relevant provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth) concerning the calculation and review of child support assessments, particularly where estimates are used.

The Member affirmed the decision of the Child Support Registrar. The reasoning focused on the Registrar's authority to conduct an estimate reconciliation when the necessary particulars for a precise assessment were not available. The Member found that the Registrar had acted within their statutory powers and that the estimate reconciliation was conducted in accordance with the legislative framework governing child support assessments. The principles applied involved the interpretation of the Registrar's administrative functions and the evidentiary requirements for challenging an assessment.