Zaffino and Child Support Registrar (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by Mr Zaffino against a decision of the Child Support Registrar regarding the assessment of child support. The dispute centred on whether Mr Zaffino was entitled to a departure from the standard child support assessment, specifically concerning the income of his former partner, Ms Zaffino.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was whether the Registrar's decision to refuse Mr Zaffino's application for a departure from the child support assessment was justified. This required the Tribunal to consider whether the circumstances of the case met the criteria for a departure under the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth), particularly in relation to the income of Ms Zaffino and the potential impact on the child's best interests.

Senior Member T Hamilton-Noy considered the evidence presented by both parties, including financial information and submissions regarding the care arrangements for the child. The Tribunal applied the principles established in child support legislation and relevant case law, which require a departure from a standard assessment only where it would be 'just and equitable' to do so and would be 'otherwise proper'. The Tribunal found that the evidence did not establish that the standard assessment was not just and equitable or otherwise proper, and therefore the Registrar's decision was upheld.