Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989

Act No. 124 of 1989 as amended

This compilation was prepared on 19 July 2007
incorporating amendments up to Act No. 82 of 2007

The text of any of those amendments not in force
on that date is appended in the Notes section

The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be
affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney‑General’s Department, Canberra

  

  

  

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary                                                                                                               1

1............ Short title [see Note 1]....................................................................... 1

2............ Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................. 1

3............ Duty of parents to maintain their children......................................... 1

4............ Objects of Act.................................................................................... 2

4A......... Application of the Criminal Code...................................................... 2

5............ Interpretation—definitions................................................................. 3

6............ Interpretation—expressions used in Registration and Collection Act 9

7............ Interpretation—expressions used in Part VII of Family Law Act..... 9

7A......... Meaning of child support period........................................................ 9

7B......... Meaning of eligible carer.................................................................. 11

8............ Interpretation—shared ongoing daily care and major and substantial care              12

8A......... Interpretation—modification of meaning of care if court order etc. contravened    13

9............ Interpretation—meaning of separated.............................................. 15

10.......... Interpretation—meaning of resident of Australia............................. 15

12.......... Interpretation—happening of child support terminating events...... 15

13.......... Extension and application of Act in relation to maintenance of exnuptial children 18

14.......... Additional application of Act in relation to maintenance of children of marriages  19

15.......... Corresponding State laws................................................................. 20

16.......... Act to bind Crown............................................................................ 20

Part 2—Counselling                                                                                                             21

17.......... Court counselling facilities to be made available............................... 21

Part 3—Children who may be covered by Act                                                      22

18.......... Act applies only in relation to eligible children................................ 22

19.......... Children born on or after commencing day are eligible children....... 22

20.......... Children of parents who separate on or after commencing day are eligible children               22

21.......... Children with a brother or sister who is an eligible child are eligible children          22

22.......... Exclusion of certain children from coverage of Act.......................... 23

Part 4—Applications to Registrar for administrative assessment of child support               24

Division 1—Application requirements                                                              24

23.......... Application requirements generally.................................................. 24

24.......... Children in relation to whom applications may be made................. 24

25.......... Persons who may apply—eligible carers......................................... 25

25A....... Persons who may apply—parents other than eligible carers........... 26

26.......... Requirements of application where there are joint carers................. 27

26A....... Requirements of application if child is cared for under child welfare law               27

27.......... Application for administrative assessment...................................... 28

28.......... Application for child support for 2 or more children made in same form etc.        28

Division 2—Decision on application                                                                   29

29.......... How decision is to be made.............................................................. 29

30.......... Decision on application.................................................................... 30

30A....... No administrative assessment or acceptance of agreement if contrary to international maintenance arrangement 30

30B....... Registrar may refuse application for administrative assessment if overseas liability already registered 31

31.......... Liability to pay child support arises on acceptance of application etc.  31

32.......... Withdrawal of application by applicant........................................... 32

Division 3—Notice of decision                                                                              34

33.......... Notice to be given to unsuccessful applicant................................... 34

34.......... Notice to be given to person from whom child support sought....... 35

Part 4A—Assessments of child support for later child support periods 36

34A....... Registrar must make assessment when new taxable income figure is available        36

34B....... Administrative assessment for child support period started by new agreement when support already payable   37

34C....... Administrative assessments for child support periods not started by application or new agreement    38

Part 5—Administrative assessment of child support                                        39

Division 1—The basic formula                                                                               39

35.......... Application of basic formula to determine annual rate of child support 39

36.......... The basic formula............................................................................. 39

37.......... Liable parent’s child support percentage......................................... 39

38.......... Liable parent’s child support income amount.................................. 40

38A....... Liable parent’s supplementary amount............................................ 40

39.......... Liable parent’s exempted income amount........................................ 41

Division 2—Modifications of the basic formula for certain cases       44

Subdivision A—General                                                                                           44

40.......... Division subject to departure orders and child support agreements 44

Subdivision C—Liable parents with high child support income                       44

42.......... Cap on child support if child support income amount exceeds 2.5 times yearly equivalent of EAWE amount     44

Subdivision D—Carer parents with child support income of more than disregarded income amount            44

43.......... Cases in relation to which Subdivision applies................................ 44

44.......... Reduction of child support if carer’s child support income amount exceeds carer’s disregarded income amount  45

45.......... Carer’s child support income amount.............................................. 45

45A....... Entitled carer’s supplementary amount........................................... 45

46.......... Carer’s disregarded income amount.................................................. 46

Subdivision E—Children shared or divided between parents                            46

47.......... Cases in relation to which Subdivision applies................................ 46

48.......... Application of the basic formula etc................................................ 47

49.......... Offsetting of child support liabilities............................................... 49

Subdivision F—Children with 2 liable parents                                                    49

50.......... Cases in relation to which Subdivision applies................................ 49

51.......... Application of the basic formula etc................................................ 49

52.......... Cap on combined child support liabilities of 2 liable parents.......... 50

Subdivision G—Liable parents with 2 or more carers entitled to child support  50

53.......... Cases in relation to which Subdivision applies................................ 50

54.......... Application of the basic formula etc................................................ 51

Subdivision H—Parents whose care is modified by effect of court order/parenting plan  56

54A....... Cases in relation to which Subdivision applies................................ 56

54B....... Application of basic formula etc...................................................... 57

Division 3—Child support income amount                                                     59

Subdivision A—Child support income amount determined by reference to taxable income for last relevant year of income                                                                                                         59

56.......... Taxable income assessed under Income Tax Assessment Act to be taxable income for child support purposes   59

57.......... Taxable income for child support purposes where taxable income determined to be nil under Income Tax Assessment Act etc.............................................................................................. 61

58.......... Taxable income or supplementary amount not readily ascertainable 64

Subdivision AA—Overseas income                                                                       65

58A....... Inclusion of overseas income in working out a person’s child support income amount         65

58B....... Determination of overseas income if information and documents in Registrar’s possession are sufficient            66

58C....... Determination of overseas income if information and documents in Registrar’s possession are insufficient         66

Subdivision B—Child support income amount determined by reference to estimate of taxable income and supplementary amount for rest of current child support period                     67

59.......... Interpretation.................................................................................... 67

60.......... Choosing child support income amount for remainder of child support period      68

60A....... Registrar may refuse to accept election............................................ 70

60B....... Notice to be given if Registrar refuses to accept election................. 71

61.......... Effect of election............................................................................... 71

62.......... Revocation of election...................................................................... 72

63.......... Effect of revocation.......................................................................... 72

63A....... Amendment of assessment based on election if event affecting accuracy of estimate occurs 73

63B....... Amendment of assessment based on election if Registrar asks for information supporting estimate     74

64.......... Reconciliation of estimated and actual taxable income and supplementary amount after end of child support period.......................................................................................................... 75

64A....... Penalty for underestimating taxable income and supplementary amount                76

Division 4—Provisions relating to the making of assessments           78

65.......... How assessment is to be made......................................................... 78

66.......... Minimum annual rate of child support............................................. 78

66A....... Registrar may reduce an assessment to nil in certain cases.............. 80

66B....... Section 66 does not apply in certain cases....................................... 80

66C....... Notice to be given to unsuccessful applicant................................... 81

67.......... Assessment to relate to all children for whom child support payable by liable parent          81

68.......... Assessment to relate to whole or part of single child support period 82

69.......... Conversion of annual rates into daily rates of payment................... 82

70.......... Evidence relating to assessments...................................................... 82

71.......... Assessment for part of a child support period................................ 83

72.......... Validity of assessments.................................................................... 83

73.......... Assumptions as to future events...................................................... 83

74.......... Registrar to give effect to happening of child support terminating events etc.       83

74A....... Date of effect of change in care......................................................... 84

75.......... Amendment of assessments............................................................. 84

76.......... Notice of assessment to be given to liable parent etc....................... 86

Division 5—Liability to pay child support as assessed                             88

77.......... Effect of assessment......................................................................... 88

78.......... When amounts of child support due and payable............................ 88

79.......... Recovery of amounts of child support............................................. 88

Part 6—Consent arrangements                                                                                     89

Division 1—Introduction                                                                                          89

80.......... Cases in relation to which Part applies............................................ 89

Division 2—Child support agreement requirements                                90

81.......... Child support agreement requirements generally............................. 90

82.......... Children in relation to whom agreements may be made................... 90

83.......... Persons who may be parties to agreements...................................... 90

84.......... Matters in relation to which agreements may make provision......... 91

85.......... Formal requirements for agreements................................................. 93

87.......... Agreement may be made in relation to 2 or more children etc.......... 93

Division 3—Applications to Registrar for acceptance of child support agreements      94

88.......... Application requirements generally.................................................. 94

89.......... Formal requirement for applications................................................ 94

90.......... Application for 2 or more separate agreements may be made in same form           94

Division 4—Decisions on applications                                                              95

91.......... How decision is to be made.............................................................. 95

91A....... Procedure where payee is in receipt of, or a claimant for, family tax benefit          95

92.......... Decision on application.................................................................... 96

93.......... Liability to pay child support arises on acceptance of application where child support not already payable etc........................................................................................................... 97

94.......... Registrar to take action to give effect to accepted child support agreement where child support already payable.......................................................................................................... 99

95.......... Effect of certain provisions of accepted child support agreements.. 99

Division 5—Notice of the decision                                                                    102

96.......... Notice of decision to be given......................................................... 102

Division 6—Variation of child support agreements                                  103

97.......... Child support agreement may be varied by subsequent agreement 103

98.......... Variation etc. of provisions of child support agreement by court order  103

Part 6A—Departure from administrative assessment of child support (departure determinations)           104

Division 1—Preliminary                                                                                          104

98A....... Simplified outline............................................................................ 104

Division 2—Departures initiated by a liable parent or carer               105

98B....... Application for determination under Part...................................... 105

98C....... Matters as to which Registrar must be satisfied before making determination       105

98D....... Formal requirements for application.............................................. 106

98E........ Registrar may refuse to make determination because issues too complex               106

98F........ Application disclosing no grounds etc. for making determination—how dealt with               106

98G....... Other party to be notified.............................................................. 107

98H....... Procedure for dealing with application........................................... 107

98J........ Subsequent applications................................................................. 108

98JA..... Notice of refusal to be served on parties........................................ 109

Division 3—Departures initiated by the Registrar                                   110

98K....... Registrar may initiate a determination under this Part................... 110

98L........ Matters as to which Registrar must be satisfied before making determination       110

98M...... Parties to be notified....................................................................... 111

98N....... Replies............................................................................................ 111

98P........ Parties may jointly elect that Registrar discontinue proceedings... 111

98Q....... Procedure........................................................................................ 112

98R....... Registrar may refuse to make determination because issues too complex               113

98RA.... Notice of refusal to be served on parties........................................ 113

Division 4—Determinations that may be made under this Part         114

98S........ Determinations that may be made under Part................................ 114

98SA..... Variation not to be below minimum annual rate of child support.. 115

Division 5—Child support agreements                                                           117

98T....... Parties may enter into child support agreement............................. 117

98U....... Decision on child support agreement............................................. 117

Division 6—Pending applications                                                                       119

98V....... Pending application not to affect assessment................................. 119

Part 7—Court review of certain decisions                                                            120

Division 1A—Preliminary                                                                                       120

98W...... Simplified outline............................................................................ 120

Division 1—Jurisdiction of courts                                                                     121

98X....... Simplified outline............................................................................ 121

99.......... Jurisdiction of courts under Act..................................................... 121

100........ Application of Family Law Act..................................................... 122

101........ Appellate jurisdiction of Family Court under Act......................... 123

102........ Appeals to Full Court of Family Court from courts other than the Federal Magistrates Court and the Magistrates Court of Western Australia............................................................ 123

102A..... Appeals to Family Court from the Federal Magistrates Court and the Magistrates Court of Western Australia  125

103........ Cases stated.................................................................................... 127

104........ Appeals to High Court................................................................... 128

105........ Appeals from courts of summary jurisdiction............................... 129

Division 2—Entitlement to administrative assessment                         131

106........ Simplified outline............................................................................ 131

106A..... Declaration that a person is entitled to administrative assessment 131

107........ Declaration that a person is not entitled to administrative assessment 133

108........ Implementation of decisions........................................................... 134

109........ Pending application not to affect assessment................................. 134

Division 3—Application for amendment of administrative assessment that is more than 18 months old                                                                                                                    135

110........ Simplified outline............................................................................ 135

111........ Application for amendment of administrative assessment that is more than 18 months old  135

112........ Court may grant leave to amend administrative assessment that is more than 18 months old                136

113........ Implementation of decisions........................................................... 137

113A..... Pending application not to affect assessment................................. 138

Division 4—Orders for departure from administrative assessment in special circumstances (departure orders)                                                                                                    139

113B..... Simplified outline............................................................................ 139

114........ Additional particular objects of Division....................................... 139

116........ Application for order under Division............................................. 139

117........ Matters as to which court must be satisfied before making order.. 141

117A..... Provisions relating to income earned for the benefit of resident children                147

118........ Orders that may be made under Division....................................... 148

119........ Implementation of orders............................................................... 149

120........ Pending proceeding not to affect assessment................................. 150

Division 5—Orders for provision of child support otherwise than in form of periodic amounts paid to carer                                                                                                         151

121........ Additional particular objects of Division....................................... 151

122........ Cases in relation to which Division applies................................... 151

123........ Application for order under Division............................................. 151

124........ Orders for provision of child support otherwise than in form of periodic amounts paid to carer entitled to child support........................................................................................... 152

125........ Court to state relationship between order and assessed child support 153

126........ Court to give reasons for order....................................................... 154

127........ Effect of orders on administrative assessment of child support.... 155

128........ Pensioners entitled to apply to have assessed child support not reduced by more than 25%                155

129........ Modification of orders under Division........................................... 157

130........ Court to give reasons for modifications.......................................... 159

131........ Court may make orders consequential upon the discharge of orders etc.                159

Division 6—Setting aside accepted child support agreements          161

135........ Simplified outline............................................................................ 161

136........ Power of court to set aside agreements.......................................... 161

137........ Court may make orders consequential on setting aside of agreement 161

138........ Implementation of decisions........................................................... 162

Division 7—Urgent maintenance orders                                                        163

138A..... Simplified outline............................................................................ 163

139........ Urgent maintenance orders............................................................. 163

Division 8—Provisions relating to court orders                                        165

140A..... Simplified outline............................................................................ 165

141........ General powers of court................................................................. 165

142........ Cessation of orders under Act........................................................ 166

143........ Amounts paid where no liability to pay exists etc......................... 167

Division 9—Miscellaneous                                                                                    169

143A..... Simplified outline............................................................................ 169

143B..... Frivolous or vexatious proceedings................................................ 169

144........ Determining when decision of a court becomes final...................... 169

145........ Registrar may intervene in proceedings.......................................... 170

146........ Copies of orders to be forwarded to Registrar............................... 170

Part 8—Administration                                                                                                    171

147........ Secretary has general administration of Act................................... 171

148........ Annual report................................................................................. 171

149........ Delegation....................................................................................... 171

150........ Secrecy............................................................................................ 172

150AA.. Offence of unauthorised use of information................................... 178

150A..... Applications, notices, elections and replies to be in the manner specified by the Registrar   179

150B..... Registrar’s power to request tax file numbers................................ 179

150C..... Effect of failure by person to satisfy request for person’s tax file number             180

150D..... Registrar may require Commissioner to provide information........ 181

150DA.. Registrar’s jurisdiction to cease in certain circumstances............... 181

Part 9—Miscellaneous                                                                                                     182

151........ Election by carer entitled to child support to end administrative assessment         182

151A..... Procedure where person making election is receiving more than the base rate of family tax benefit Part A           183

151B..... Application for assessment/agreement to continue beyond child’s 18th birthday  183

151C..... Application for assessment/agreement to continue—Registrar’s decision              184

151D..... Application for assessment/agreement to continue—consequences of acceptance 185

152........ Court order etc. to cease to have effect where child support becomes payable      186

153........ Evidentiary certificates by Registrar.............................................. 187

154........ Changes in published EAWE figures to be disregarded.................. 188

155........ Publication of EAWE and social security pension figures............. 188

156........ Rounding of amounts...................................................................... 188

157........ Appearance by Registrar in proceedings etc.................................. 189

158........ Judicial notice of signature of Registrar etc.................................... 189

159........ False or misleading statements....................................................... 189

159A..... Statements made recklessly etc...................................................... 190

159B..... Failure to notify required information............................................ 191

160........ Notification requirements............................................................... 191

161........ Obtaining of information and evidence........................................... 192

162........ Order to comply with requirement................................................. 193

162A..... Obtaining information in relation to residents of reciprocating jurisdictions           194

162B..... Regulations may prescribe manner of giving notices or other communications       195

163........ Act not a taxation law..................................................................... 195

163A..... Certain instruments not liable to duty............................................ 195

163B..... Regulations in relation to overseas‑related maintenance obligations etc. 197

164........ Regulations..................................................................................... 197

Part 10—Amendments of the Child Support Act 1988                                   198

Sections 165–188........................................................................................... 198

Part 11—Amendments of the Family Law Act 1975                                       199

Sections 189–195........................................................................................... 199

Part 12—Amendments of the Social Security Act 1947                                200

Sections 196–198........................................................................................... 200

Part 13—Amendment of the Taxation Administration Act 1953              201

Sections 199, 200........................................................................................... 201

Notes                                                                                                                                          203

An Act to make provision for determining the financial support payable by parents for their children, and for other purposes

Part 1—Preliminary

  

1  Short title [see Note 1]

                   This Act may be cited as the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989.

2  Commencement [see Note 1]

             (1)  Subject to subsection (2), this Act commences on a day to be fixed by Proclamation.

             (2)  If this Act does not commence under subsection (1) within the period of 6 months beginning on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent, it commences on the first day after the end of that period.

3  Duty of parents to maintain their children

             (1)  The parents of a child have the primary duty to maintain the child.

             (2)  Without limiting subsection (1), the duty of a parent to maintain a child:

                     (a)  is not of lower priority than the duty of the parent to maintain any other child or another person; and

                     (b)  has priority over all commitments of the parent other than commitments necessary to enable the parent to support:

                              (i)  himself or herself; and

                             (ii)  any other child or another person that the parent has a duty to maintain; and

                     (c)  is not affected by:

                              (i)  the duty of any other person to maintain the child; or

                             (ii)  any entitlement of the child or another person to an income tested pension, allowance or benefit.

4  Objects of Act

             (1)  The principal object of this Act is to ensure that children receive a proper level of financial support from their parents.

             (2)  Particular objects of this Act include ensuring:

                     (a)  that the level of financial support to be provided by parents for their children is determined according to their capacity to provide financial support and, in particular, that parents with a like capacity to provide financial support for their children should provide like amounts of financial support; and

                     (b)  that the level of financial support to be provided by parents for their children should be determined in accordance with the legislatively fixed standards; and

                     (c)  that persons who provide ongoing daily care for children should be able to have the level of financial support to be provided for the children readily determined without the need to resort to court proceedings; and

                     (d)  that children share in changes in the standard of living of both their parents, whether or not they are living with both or either of them; and

                     (e)  that Australia is in a position to give effect to its obligations under international agreements or arrangements relating to maintenance obligations arising from family relationship, parentage or marriage.

             (3)  It is the intention of the Parliament that this Act should be construed, to the greatest extent consistent with the attainment of its objects:

                     (a)  to permit parents to make private arrangements for the financial support of their children; and

                     (b)  to limit interferences with the privacy of persons.

4A  Application of the Criminal Code

                   Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code applies to all offences against this Act.

5  Interpretation—definitions

                   In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

AAT means the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

adjusted income amount, in relation to a liable parent, has the meaning given by subsection 36(2).

administrative assessment means assessment under Part 5.

annual rate includes an annual rate of nil.

applicable Rules of Court has the same meaning as in the Family Law Act 1975.

carer application means an application for administrative assessment under section 25.

carer entitled to child support has the meaning given by section 31 or, in relation to a case in which the liability to pay the child support concerned arose because of the acceptance by the Registrar of a child support agreement, the meaning given by section 93.

child eligible for administrative assessment means a child in relation to whom an application may, under section 24, be made to the Registrar for administrative assessment of child support.

child support means financial support under this Act, including financial support under this Act by way of lump sum payment or by way of transfer or settlement of property.

child support agreement has the meaning given by section 81.

child support income amount has the meaning given by:

                     (a)  in the case of a liable parent—section 38 and Division 3 of Part 5; and

                     (b)  in the case of a carer entitled to child support—section 45 and Division 3 of Part 5.

child support percentage has the meaning given by section 37 (as modified in relation to certain cases by paragraphs 48(e), 54(1)(b) and (c) and 54B(f)).

child support period has the meaning given by subsection 7A(1).

child support terminating event has the meaning given by section 12.

child support year means:

                     (a)  the period starting on the commencing day and ending on the next 30 June; or

                     (b)  a subsequent financial year.

claimant, in relation to family tax benefit, means a person who has made a claim for the benefit, if the claim has not been determined.

commencing day means the day on which this Act commences.

court exercising jurisdiction under this Act does not include a court exercising jurisdiction in proceedings under paragraph 79(a).

court having jurisdiction under this Act does not include a court that has jurisdiction under this Act only in relation to the recovery of amounts of child support.

disregarded income amount, in relation to a carer entitled to child support, has the meaning given by section 46.

EAWE amount, in relation to a child support period, means the estimate of the all employees average weekly total earnings for persons in Australia for the latest period for which such an estimate was published by the Australian Statistician before the calendar year in which the child support period started.

eligible carer has the meaning given by section 7B.

eligible child has the meaning given by Part 3 (Children who may be covered by Act).

exempted income amount, in relation to a liable parent, has the meaning given by section 39.

Family Assistance Act means the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999.

Family Law Act 1975