Akbar and Akbar (No 3)

In *Akbar and Akbar (No 3)*, Cronin J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application to vary an existing spousal maintenance order. The dispute concerned the appropriate level of ongoing financial support to be provided by the husband to the wife.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the existing spousal maintenance order should be varied, and if so, to what extent. This required the court to assess the current financial circumstances of both parties and determine if a change in the quantum of maintenance was warranted.

Cronin J varied the extant spousal maintenance order, reducing the weekly payment from an unspecified previous amount to $750. The court ordered that the first payment at the new rate was to be made on the date the next payment under the original order was due. All outstanding interim applications were dismissed.