Section 3 — Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989: Costs of the children

(1) Each item in the Costs of the Children Table sets out a method of working out the costs of the children. (2) If, under section 55G or 55HA, an item is identified in the first column of the table, the costs of the children is the amount that is the percentage specified in that item of the parents’ combined child support income, or the parent’s child support income, (as the case requires). (3) If, under section 55G or 55HA, an item (the relevant item) is identified in a row in the second, third, fourth or fifth column (the relevant column), the costs of the children is the total of the following amounts: (aa) the amount worked out for the item in that row in the first column by multiplying the percentage specified in that item by the highest combined child support income, or child support income, covered by that column; (a) if the relevant column is the third, fourth or fifth column—the amounts worked out for each item in that row in each of the previous columns (other than the first column) by multiplying the percentage specified in that item by the difference between: (i) the highest combined child support income, or child support income, covered by that column; and (ii) the highest combined child support income or child support income in the previous column; (b) in any case—the amount worked out by multiplying the percentage specified in the relevant item by the difference between: (i) the parents’ combined child support income, or the parent’s child support income, (as the case requires); and (ii) the highest combined child support income or child support income in the previous column. (4) If, under section 55G or 55HA, an item is identified in a row in the last column, the costs of the children is the total of the amounts worked out for the items in that row in each of the previous columns in accordance with paragraphs (3)(aa) and (a).