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Muraco and Muraco (Child support) [2024] AATA 2019 (3 June 2024)
Last Updated: 25 June 2024
Muraco and Muraco (Child support) [2024] AATA 2019 (3 June 2024)
DIVISION: Social Services & Child Support Division
REVIEW NUMBER: 2023/MC026607
APPLICANT: Mr Muraco
OTHER PARTIES: Child Support Registrar
Ms Muraco
TRIBUNAL: Member D Lambden
DECISION DATE: 3 June 2024
DECISION:
The Tribunal sets aside the decision under review and, in substitution,
decides that:
(a) The objection officer’s decision dated 4 November 2022 is to remain
unchanged.
(b) For the period 1 August 2023 until 30 November 2023, Mr Muraco’s
adjusted taxable income shall be set at $118,767.
(c) For the period 1 August 2023 until 31 December 2023, the assessment
otherwise payable by Mr Muraco shall be increased by $15,556
(being a
contribution of $1,642 towards [Child 1]’s orthodontics and $13,914
towards the children’s 2024 tuition fees).
(d) For the period 1 January 2024 until 31 July 2024, the assessment otherwise
payable by Mr Muraco shall be increased by $15,904
(being a contribution of
$1,642 towards [Child 1]’s orthodontics and $14,262 towards the
children’s 2024 tuition fees).
(e) For the period 1 August 2024 until 31 December 2024, the assessment
otherwise payable by Mr Muraco shall be increased by $14,262
(being a
contribution of $14,262 towards the children’s 2024 tuition fees).
(f) For the period 1 January 2025 until 31 December 2025, the assessment
otherwise payable by Mr Muraco shall be increased by $15,235
(his $14,619
contribution towards the children’s 2025 tuition fees and $616 towards
[Child 1]’s orthodontic treatment).
CATCHWORDS
CHILD SUPPORT – change of assessment – there are special
circumstances – mutual expectation that the children will
be privately
educated – special needs of one child – income, property and
financial resources – hardship will be
caused to mother – otherwise
proper to depart from the administrative assessment – decision under
review set aside and
substituted
Names used in all published decisions are pseudonyms. Any references
appearing in square brackets indicate that information has been
removed from
this decision and replaced with generic information so as not to identify
involved individuals as required by subsections 16(2AB)-16(2AC) of the Child
Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988
REASONS FOR DECISION
BACKGROUND
- Mr
Muraco and Ms Muraco are the parents of [Child 2] and [Child 1] (the children)
in respect of whom Mr Muraco has a child support
liability. For the purposes
of the child support assessment the children are recorded as being in the above
primary care of Ms
Muraco.
- The
child support assessment commenced from 6 March 2022 and is currently registered
for collection by Services Australia –
Child Support (Child Support).
- On
4 November 2022 an objection officer made the following decision:
- The decision
made by an objections officer on 14 July 2022 remains unchanged as follows:
- For the period 6
March 2022 to 5 March 2023, the annual rate payable by Mr Muraco is increased by
$5,693.00 to reflect 50% of the
balance of [Child 2] and [Child 1]’s
private tuition fees.
- For the period 1
November 2022 to 31 October 2023, the annual rate Mr Muraco is required to pay
increases by a further $1,000 as a
contribution towards [Child 2]’s
orthodontic costs.
- On
23 January 2023 Ms Muraco applied for a departure from the administrative
assessment of child support in special circumstances,
also known as a
‘change of assessment’. Ms Muraco identified the grounds known
as ‘Reasons 2 and 3’.
- On
21 April 2023 Child Support found that Reasons 2 and 3 were established and
changed the assessment as follows:
- For the period 1
January 2023 to 1 August 2025, the annual rate Mr Muraco is required to pay
increases by a further $3,300 as a contribution
towards [Child 1]’s
orthodontic costs.
- For the period 6
March 2023 to 5 March 2024, the annual rate Mr Muraco is required to pay
increases by $13,914 to account for Mr Muraco’s
contribution towards the
children’s tuition fees.
- For the period 6
March 2024 until [Child 2] ceases to be an eligible child of the assessment, the
annual rate payable by Mr Muraco
shall increase by $14,617, to account for
Mr Muraco’s contribution towards the children’s tuition
fees.
- On
16 May 2023 Mr Muraco objected to this decision. On 29 July 2023 his objection
was partly allowed and the following decision was
made:
- Reasons 2, 3 and
8A were established and from 1 August 2023 the previous change of assessment
decisions dated 21 April 2023 and 4
November 2022 would respectively cease to
have effect.
- For the period 1
August 2023 until 30 November 2023, Mr Muraco’s adjusted taxable income
shall be set at $118,767.
- For the period 1
August 2023 until 31 December 2023, the assessment otherwise payable by Mr
Muraco shall be increased by $15,556 (being
a contribution of $1,642 towards
[Child 1]’s orthodontics and $13,914 towards the children’s 2024
tuition fees).
- For the period 1
January 2024 until 31 July 2024, the assessment otherwise payable by
Mr Muraco shall be increased by $15,904 (being
a contribution of $1,642
towards [Child 1]’s orthodontics and $14,262 towards the children’s
2024 tuition fees).
- For the period 1
August 2024 until 31 December 2024, the assessment otherwise payable by Mr
Muraco shall be increased by $14,262 (being
a contribution of $14,262 towards
the children’s 2024 tuition fees).
- For the period 1
January 2025 until 31 December 2025, the assessment otherwise payable by Mr
Muraco shall be increased by $14,619
(his contribution towards the
children’s 2025 tuition fees).
- The impact on
the assessment is that Mr Muraco’s annual rate of child support payable
will decreased for the period commencing
1 August 2023 from $42,310 to
approximately $40,524.
- Mr
Muraco applied to the Tribunal for review on 17 August 2023.
- The
parties participated in an MS Teams audio directions hearing on 6 December 2023
and have substantively complied with the directions.
- The
documentary evidence before the Tribunal consists of the Tribunal papers,
indexed C1 to C476, documentary evidence produced by
Mr Muraco indexed
A1 to A88 and documentary evidence produced by Ms Muraco indexed B1 to
B103.
- The
parties participated in an MS Teams audio hearing on 16 January 2024.
- The
Tribunal reconvened on 3 June 2024 to consider all of the evidence before it and
made its decision.
ISSUES
- The
legislation relevant to this review is contained in the Child Support
(Assessment) Act 1989 (the Act) and in the Child Support (Registration
and Collection) Act 1988. The rate of child support payable by a liable
parent is usually based on an administrative assessment under Part 5 of the Act.
This requires the application of a statutory formula which considers factors
such as the number and age of children,
the level of care provided and the
taxable income of each parent.
- The
Tribunal also had regard to the Child Support Guide (the Guide) where relevant.
The Guide contains government guidelines as to
how the legislation is to be
applied. The Tribunal acknowledges that, whilst it may be guided by policy, it
is not bound to follow
it: Re Drake and Minister for Immigration and
Ethnic Affairs (No 2) (1979) 2 ALD 634.
- Under
section 98B of the Act, if special circumstances exist, a liable parent or a
carer entitled to child support may apply to the Child Support Registrar
(the
Registrar) in writing, requesting a departure from the administrative assessment
in relation to a child.
- Under
section 98C of the Act, before making a departure determination on an
application made under section 98B of the Act, the Registrar must be satisfied
that in the special circumstances of the case, one or more grounds under
subsection 117(2) of the Act exist, and that it would be just, equitable and
otherwise proper to make a particular determination.
- The
issues for the Tribunal to determine in this case are therefore:
- Whether one or
more of the grounds for departure referred to in subsection 117(2) of the Act
exists; and, if so
- Whether it would
be just and equitable as regards the child, the liable parent, and the carer
entitled to child support to depart
from the administrative assessment of child
support, and
- Is it otherwise,
proper; to make a particular determination to departure
determination?
CONSIDERATION
There is a ground to depart from the
administrative assessment of child support
- As
to the ground known as Reason 3, subparagraph 117(2)(b)(ii) of the Act provides
that the ground will be established if, in the
special circumstances of the
case, the costs of maintaining the children are significantly affected because
the children are being
educated in the manner that was expected by their
parents.
- The
Guide at 2.6.9 states:
The Registrar will also consider the
circumstances at the time of separation. If the child was attending a particular
private school,
or was participating in a particular extracurricular activity,
then this element will usually be established. If not, evidence of
the parents'
expectation would need to be provided, for example, the payment of fees,
evidence of joint enrolment, contribution towards
a scholarship fund to pay
private school fees. The parents' expectation can be created at any time, not
just during the period that
the parents lived together.
- The
Tribunal noted the relevant case of Reiner
and Reiner and Anor (SSAT Appeal) [2013] FCCA 189: when the Court determined
it was clear that the parties did have long-standing, shared expectations about
the child’s Christian
private school education, and it was open to the
Tribunal to have made its finding it was just and equitable for second
respondent
to contribute to those school fees despite previous confusion about
whether she would and the appeal was dismissed.
- At
C267 an email addressed to Mr Muraco dated 31 October 2022 from [College 1] is
included which states ‘The enrolment contracts
for [Child 2] and [Child 1]
have been signed by Ms Muraco and yourself and on the current contract you have
ticked the box mother
only responsible for fees. This is why you have never
received any fee statements. As your name is not on the fee account we are
unable to email you past statements unless we have court orders requesting
this’. Mr Muraco stated that he never ticked the
box in relation to the
school fees. Ms Muraco explained that the school fees statements are sent to her
email address and when the
children commenced at the school she would be sent
the fortnightly statements and pay the fees each fortnight. A copy of a
Confirmation
of Enrolment Details form for [Child 2] for [College 1] was
provided at B23 to B34 and the form had been signed by Mr Muraco and
Ms Muraco
on 1 November 2018. Included at B35 to B46 was a Confirmation of Enrolment
Details form for [Child 1] which had been signed
by Mr Muraco and Ms Muraco on
29 October 2018.
- At
the hearing Mr Muraco stated that Ms Muraco’s father, Mr [A], offered to
pay for one of the children to attend [College 1]
under a verbal agreement with
Mr Muraco and Ms Muraco. He stated that this agreement was reached when
[Child 2] was in year 5 at
school. Mr Muraco stated that he and Ms Muraco
intended to pay school fees for one child. He stated that at separation Ms
Muraco
said initially that her father would continue to contribute to the
payment of the children’s school fees Mr Muraco stated that
he wants the
children to stay at [College 1], however, it is impossible for him to afford to
pay for school fees for both children
now. Mr Muraco referred to C10 which was a
statement from Mr [A] which outlined the payments he had made towards the
children’s
school fees in 2019 to 2022. Mr Muraco stated that Mr [A]
retired in January 2020 and continued to make payments towards the
children’s
school fees until March 2022. Mr Muraco stated that he was not
receiving statements from the school in relation to the fees.
- At
the hearing Ms Muraco stated that her father, Mr [A], never paid fees for one of
the children. She stated that the verbal agreement
with her father was that he
would make payments when he could when he was working and it was never going to
be an ongoing situation.
She stated that her father receives the pension now
and she is not receiving money from her parents. Ms Muraco stated that her
father
is not a self-funded retiree and he retired at the end of 2021. She
stated that her father’s last payment towards the children’s
school
fees was $10,000 made in March 2022. Ms Muraco stated that it is impossible for
the children to stay at the school without
Mr Muraco’s contribution. She
stated that [Child 2] attended the school first and then [Child 1] moved there
earlier than [Child
2] did. She stated that she and Mr Muraco were both
very happy with the school and had agreed to work it out when they separated
in
relation to the fees. Ms Muraco explained that when they separated they sat
down with the children and discussed working it out
together and she stated that
her father could not pay the fees. Ms Muraco explained that [Child 2] is
studying year 10 and [Child
1] is studying year 7 this year and she referred to
the 2023 fee statement for [College 1] which outlines fees charged for each year
level.
- The
Tribunal was mindful of the relevant case of Farthing
& Robinson & Anor [2016] FCCA 2851, where the Court held that one of
the factors for the Tribunal to consider is the circumstance at the time of
separation. This case
found that if the child was attending a particular school,
then it may be evidence of the manner expected by the child's parents.
Furthermore, this case found that the parents' expectations, however, can be
created at any time, not just during the period that
the parents lived together.
The Tribunal also considered the case of Oliver
v Oliver [2021] FCCA 965, where the father signed the enrolment form but did
not make a commitment to pay school fees. In this case the Court agreed with
the
Tribunal’s approach that the father’s agreement to pay school fees
was not a requirement for the ground of departure
but instead that there are
special circumstances in the case, the children are being educated in the manner
expected by the parties
and the costs of maintaining the children are
significantly affected as a consequence of that.
- The
Tribunal is satisfied on the balance of the evidence before it that both Mr
Muraco and Ms Muraco expected that the children’s
schooling would take
place at a private school when they both signed the enrolment forms as outlined
at paragraph 20 of this decision
statement. The Tribunal is therefore satisfied
that the evidence of the joint enrolment demonstrates a mutual expectation that
the
children will be privately educated.
- In
Ms Muraco’s Statement of Financial Circumstances (B1 to B10) that Ms
Muraco provided to the Tribunal she indicates that education
expenses for the
children are $620 per week. Ms Muraco provided to the Tribunal a Fee
Schedule for 2023 for [College 1] which states
that tuition fees for a year 10
student are $15,832 while for a student studying year 7 they are $11,997 after
subtracting the sibling
discount. Therefore, the total tuition cost for the
children for 2023 was $27,829.
- Under
the administrative assessment, on 21 April 2023 (C246 to C248) Mr Muraco was
assessed to pay $29,721 per annum in child support.
Focussing on the costs of
the children’s private schooling, the Tribunal notes that the cost of
educating the children in the
manner expected by the parents is $27,829 and is
not met fairly by the annual rate of child support produced by the
administrative
assessment. In the Tribunal’s view, this analysis clearly
establishes that the costs of maintaining the children is significantly
affected
by the manner of their education, and the scale of the imposition of these costs
solely on Ms Muraco is so great and disproportionate
to the rate produced by the
administrative assessment that it amounts to special circumstances.
- The
Tribunal finds that in the special circumstances of this case, the costs of
maintaining the children are significantly affected
because the children are
being educated in the manner expected by their parents, and the ground is
established accordingly.
A just, equitable and otherwise proper
departure
- The
Tribunal is satisfied that there is at least one ground to depart from the
administrative assessment of child support; the next
step is to consider whether
it is just, equitable and otherwise proper to depart from the assessment.
- In
deciding whether it is just and equitable, the Tribunal must have regard to the
following matters set out in subsection 117(4) of the Act:
(a) the nature of the duty of a parent to maintain a child (as stated in section
3); and
(b) the proper needs of the child; and
(c) the income, earning capacity, property and financial resources of the child;
and
(d) the income, property and financial resources of each parent who is a party
to the proceeding; and
(da) the earning capacity of each parent who is a party to the proceeding; and
(e) the commitments of each parent who is a party to the proceeding that are
necessary to enable the parent to support:
(i) himself or herself; or
(ii) any other child or another person that the person has a duty to maintain;
and
(f) the direct and indirect costs incurred by the carer entitled to child
support in providing care for the child; and
(g) any hardship that would be caused:
(i) to:
(A) the child; or
(B) the carer entitled to child support;
by the making of, or the refusal to make, the order; and
(ii) to:
(A) the liable parent; or
(B) any other child or another person that the liable parent has a duty to
support;
by the making of, or the refusal to make, the order; and
(iii) to any resident child of the parent (see subsection (10)) by the making
of, or the refusal to make, the order.
- The
Tribunal has considered all factors in subsection 117(4) of the Act but will
only outline matters which are pertinent to the
application.
Duty of a parent to maintain a child/commitment
necessary for self-support or the support of anyone else the parent has a duty
to
maintain
- Section
3 of the Act makes it clear that the parents of a child have the primary duty to
maintain the child, and that this duty has priority
over all commitments of the
parents other than commitments necessary for self-support or the support of
another person the parent
has a duty to maintain.
- The
Tribunal is satisfied that both parties are capable of self-support having
considered their necessary personal commitments of
self-support outlined in
their Statement of Financial Circumstances. Mr Muraco and Ms Muraco each have
the primary duty to financially
support their children. Neither identified
anyone who they have a legal duty to maintain.
- Neither
Mr Muraco or Ms Muraco identified any personal health-related costs or any other
unusual self-support expenses they wished
to have considered by the Tribunal.
The proper needs of the children
- Ms
Muraco had raised the ground known as ‘Reason 2’ pertaining to the
special needs of [Child 1] and her contention in
this regard is that there are
other additional costs to be considered for the special needs of [Child 1],
which the Tribunal considers
in respect of the proper needs of [Child 1].
- Ms
Muraco provided a copy of a [Payment] Plan Schedule for [Child 1] dated
8 December 2022 with a payment plan amount of $6,600 which
commenced on 1
January 2023 and ends on 1 September 2025 (B48 to B50). She provided an account
from Dr [B] for $1200 for the initial
diagnostic appointment on 29 November 2022
(C193) and a letter from Dr [B] dated 29 November 2022 (C195).
- Mr
Muraco stated that he wants to contribute to the orthodontic costs for [Child
1].
- The
Tribunal is satisfied on the evidence made available to it that [Child 1] has
special needs as she requires orthodontic treatment.
- The
Tribunal finds that these costs should be considered when determining the child
support payable for [Child 1].
- The
Tribunal notes that due to a previous change of assessment decision on 4
November 2022 Mr Muraco has been required to contribute
$1,000 to [Child
2]’s orthodontic treatment for the period 1 November 2022 to 31 October
2023. The objection officer found
that a balance of $2,000 was owed for [Child
2]’s orthodontic treatment at 19 October 2022 and Mr Muraco and Ms Muraco
should
both contribute on a 50/50 basis towards this outstanding balance.
- The
Tribunal finds above at paragraph 27 that in the special circumstances of this
case, the costs of maintaining the children are
significantly affected because
the children are being educated in the manner expected by their parents, and the
ground of Reason
3 is established which is also linked with the proper needs of
the children.
Income, property and financial resources of the
children
- Ms
Muraco stated to the Tribunal that [Child 2] has a part-time job with [an
employer] for a few hours per week. In Mee and Ferguson [1986] FamCA 3,
the Full Family Court determined substantial income and/or assets, whether or
not directly under the control of the child, will
be relevant when deciding
whether the assessment is unjust and inequitable. Minimal earnings are generally
not regarded as a reason
to change an assessment of child support.
- The
Tribunal accepts the evidence that the children do not have their own
independent source of income or financial resources and
are wholly reliant upon
their parents for their maintenance. The Tribunal finds that the casual income
earnt by [Child 2] was minimal
earnings and insufficient to render the current
level of child support payable unjust and inequitable.
Mr Muraco’s income, property and financial
resources
- According
to the payslips provided by Mr Muraco (A11 to A16) he is employed in an
operations support role working 80 hours per fortnight.
Mr Muraco had stated on
his Statement of Financial Circumstances (A1 to A10) that his weekly total
average income amount is $2,342.36,
he has savings of $26,039, he owns a car
worth $18,000 and he has no liabilities.
- At
the hearing Mr Muraco stated that he has no care of the children. He stated that
he will experience financial hardship if the amount
of child support that he is
required to pay stays the same or increases. He explained that he pays $960 per
fortnight. He stated
that his finances are tight each fortnight and he has fuel
expenses and costs associated with servicing his car. He stated that he
shares
the cost of current bills with his partner.
- Mr
Muraco provided a copy of his Notice of Assessment from the Australian Taxation
Office (ATO) for the 2022 financial year which
stated that his taxable income
was $119,834 and a copy of his Notice of Assessment from the ATO for the 2023
financial year which
stated that his taxable income was $121,803.
- It
is clear to the Tribunal that a departure from the administrative assessment is
required to produce a just and equitable assessment
because of the financial
resources available to Mr Muraco because he is employed full-time with an
annual salary of $89,386 plus
overtime and allowances according to the payslips
that he provided to the Tribunal. The Tribunal noted that the payslips Mr Muraco
provided to the Tribunal from November 2023 and December 2023 stated that his
annual salary was still $89,386 and continued to be
paid allowances and overtime
(A11 to A16).
- In
relation to Mr Muraco’s income, he had submitted to Child Support a
payslip for the fortnight ending 20 May 2023 which stated
he had an annual
salary of $89,386 and his gross year to date income was $93,767.56 including
overtime and penalty rates and his
gross year to date allowances were
$25,369.14. The Tribunal calculates Mr Muraco’s total gross year to date
income to be $119,136.70
over a period of 24 fortnights which annualises to a
gross income of $129,065 ($119,136.70/24 x 26) after rounding up. Mr
Muraco’s
2022 tax return stated his employment income was $129,338 and his
allowable deductions were $10,298. The Tribunal subtracted allowable
deductions
of $10,928 from Mr Muraco’s gross annualised income of $129,065 and finds
that his current income for child support
purposes becomes $118,767.
Income, property, financial resources and earning capacity of
Ms Muraco
- Ms
Muraco has completed a Statement of Financial Circumstances (B1 to B10) on which
she indicated that she had a weekly total average
income amount of $2,006.63
which includes $1,080 per week from her employment, $132.21 for FTB Part A and
Part B payments from Centrelink
and $794.92 child support payments. She also
provided her Notice of Assessment for the 2022 financial year from the ATO which
states
that she had taxable income of $54,938 (B86 to B87) and her Notice of
Assessment for the 2023 financial year from the ATO which states
that she had
taxable income of $58,577 (B84 to B85). The Tribunal noted that the ATO income
statement dated 2 January 2024 that Ms
Muraco had provided for the period 1 July
2023 to 31 December 2023 stated that her gross income for this period was
$29,376. Taking
into account this evidence the Tribunal is satisfied that Ms
Muraco is not earning significantly more than her 2022-23 ATI of $58,577
which
is being used in the child support assessment.
The commitments of each parent
- The
Tribunal must consider the commitments that are necessary to enable the parent
to support himself or herself or any other child
or another person that the
person has a duty to maintain. Neither Mr Muraco nor Ms Muraco provided any
evidence relating to any other
children or person they have a duty to
maintain.
- Ms
Muraco and Ms Muraco outlined on their Statement of Financial Circumstances in
the average weekly expenses table the expenses including
food, household
supplies, telephone, clothing and shoes, children’s activities,
medical/dental/optical costs, entertainment
and hobbies, holidays, education
expenses, chemist costs, repairs, gifts, hairdressing/toiletries that she meets
for herself and
for the children and that he meets for himself. The Tribunal
finds that there is nothing unusual or out of the ordinary with the
costs both
Ms Muraco and Mr Muraco identified and finds that they are reasonable and
appropriate expenses.
Direct and indirect costs of providing
care for the child incurred by the parent entitled to child support
- Ms
Muraco stated that the children have costs associated with sporting commitments
and [Child 1] experiences [a medical condition]
with associated costs which she
is happy to pay for. Ms Muraco did not provide any evidence of the costs
associated with the children’s
sporting commitments or [Child 1]’s
learning needs. The Tribunal was unable to find that these costs constitute
significant
costs within the context of considering this change of assessment
application.
Any hardship that would be caused to the children
or Ms Muraco by the making of, or the refusal to depart from the administrative
assessment
- Ms
Muraco stated that it would not be possible for her to take on any more
financially and they have discussed leaving one child at
[College 1] and moving
one child to another school.
- Mr
Muraco stated that he was paying $948 per fortnight in child support and now he
is required to pay $1,600 per fortnight in child
support to meet the costs
associated with the braces and school fees which is not affordable.
- The
Tribunal is satisfied that hardship will be caused to Ms Muraco and the children
if a departure decision is not made as Ms Muraco
is unable to afford the costs
associated with meeting the children’s special needs on her income
alone.
What determination should be made considering the above
factors?
- The
Tribunal, having regard to the totality of the children’s and their
parents’ circumstances is satisfied that the administrative
assessment is
unfair given the financial resources available to Mr Muraco and because of the
costs associated with the children’s
private school education and [Child
1]’s orthodontic treatment.
- The
Tribunal finds that the costs arising from:
- [Child
1]’s orthodontic treatment is $7,800 ($1,200 initial deposit plus $6,600
for orthodontic treatment) and
- The
children’s school fees for 2023 were $27,829.
- As
outlined in paragraphs 17 and 18 of this decision statement both Mr Muraco and
Ms Muraco stated to the Tribunal that Ms Muraco’s
father, Mr [A], had
reached a verbal agreement with them that he would contribute to the
children’s school fees, however, the
Tribunal finds that a verbal
agreement can be ended at any time and both Mr Muraco and Ms Muraco stated
that Mr [A] has not contributed
to the children’s school fees since 2022
and therefore the Tribunal finds that the verbal agreement has ended. The
Tribunal
finds that in relation to the children’s school fees Mr
Muraco’s contribution towards the fees should remain at $13,914
to be
added to the assessment of child support otherwise payable in 2023. The Tribunal
finds to allow for a reasonable increase in
tuition fees (2.5% per annum)
Mr Muraco’s contribution for 2024 shall be increased to $14,262 and
then again to $14,619 in
2025 to be added to the assessment of child support
otherwise payable by Mr Muraco. The Tribunal finds that the assessment will end
on 31 December 2025 when [Child 2] is expected to have finished her secondary
education, and Mr Muraco and Ms Muraco will have information
available to them
at that time in relation to the school fees for [Child 1] in 2026.
- The
Tribunal finds that the total cost of [Child 1]’s orthodontic treatment is
$7,800 and Mr Muraco and Ms Muraco should contribute
on a 50/50 basis towards
these costs. This means that Mr Muraco is required to contribute $3,900 towards
[Child 1]’s orthodontic
costs.
Issue 3: Is it otherwise
proper to depart from the administrative assessment?
- The
final step for the Tribunal is to determine whether it is ‘otherwise
proper’ to depart from the administrative assessment.
Subsection 117(5) of
the Act requires the Tribunal to take into consideration the nature of the duty
of a parent to maintain a child, and the effect
that any change to the
assessment would have on the rate of any Centrelink benefits being received by
the parties or the child.
- The
child support law recognises that each parent has a primary duty to maintain
their children. In the case that they cannot, the
government may assist in the
form of family assistance payments. This decision may reduce the amount of
family assistance Ms Muraco
receives in respect of the children. The Tribunal is
satisfied that the departure from the assessment will better reflect the
financial
resources that have been available to both parents and ensure that the
level of financial support provided by the parties for the
children is
determined according to their capacity to provide that support. The Tribunal
finds that it is otherwise proper to depart
from the administrative assessment
in this matter.
- After
considering all the evidence available to it, and the factors identified in
section 117 of the Act, the Tribunal considers the following departure
determinations to be just, equitable and otherwise proper:
- The objection
officer’s decision dated 4 November 2022 is to remain unchanged.
- For the period 1
August 2023 until 30 November 2023, Mr Muraco’s adjusted taxable income
shall be set at $118,767.
- For the period 1
August 2023 until 31 December 2023, the assessment otherwise payable by Mr
Muraco shall be increased by $15,556 (being
a contribution of $1,642 towards
[Child 1]’s orthodontics and $13,914 towards the children’s 2024
tuition fees).
- For the period 1
January 2024 until 31 July 2024, the assessment otherwise payable by
Mr Muraco shall be increased by $15,904 (being
a contribution of $1,642
towards [Child 1]’s orthodontics and $14,262 towards the children’s
2024 tuition fees).
- For the period 1
August 2024 until 31 December 2024, the assessment otherwise payable by Mr
Muraco shall be increased by $14,262 (being
a contribution of $14,262 towards
the children’s 2024 tuition fees).
- For the period 1
January 2025 until 31 December 2025, the assessment otherwise payable by Mr
Muraco shall be increased by $15,235
(his $14,619 contribution towards the
children’s 2025 tuition fees and $616 towards [Child 1]’s
orthodontic treatment).
- The
parents should be aware that the Act, at section 98J, provides for either parent
to apply again for a change of assessment in
light of changed
circumstances.
DECISION
The Tribunal sets aside the decision under review and, in substitution,
decides that:
(a) The objection officer’s decision dated 4 November 2022 is to remain
unchanged.
(b) For the period 1 August 2023 until 30 November 2023, Mr Muraco’s
adjusted taxable income shall be set at $118,767.
(c) For the period 1 August 2023 until 31 December 2023, the assessment
otherwise payable by Mr Muraco shall be increased by $15,556
(being a
contribution of $1,642 towards [Child 1]’s orthodontics and $13,914
towards the children’s 2024 tuition fees).
(d) For the period 1 January 2024 until 31 July 2024, the assessment otherwise
payable by Mr Muraco shall be increased by $15,904
(being a contribution of
$1,642 towards [Child 1]’s orthodontics and $14,262 towards the
children’s 2024 tuition fees).
(e) For the period 1 August 2024 until 31 December 2024, the assessment
otherwise payable by Mr Muraco shall be increased by $14,262
(being a
contribution of $14,262 towards the children’s 2024 tuition fees).
(f) For the period 1 January 2025 until 31 December 2025, the assessment
otherwise payable by Mr Muraco shall be increased by $15,235
(his $14,619
contribution towards the children’s 2025 tuition fees and $616 towards
[Child 1]’s orthodontic treatment).
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URL: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/AATA/2024/2019.html