Balbi & Anor and Anton

In the matter of *Balbi & Anor and Anton*, heard before Forrest J, the applicants, Ms Balbi and Mr Dassila, sought leave to file an application for the adoption of two children, X and Y, by Mr Dassila, who is the stepfather of the children. The dispute concerned the procedural requirements for bringing such an adoption application within the Family Court of Australia.

The central legal issue before the Court was whether the applicants could be granted leave to file an application for adoption under the *Adoption Act 2009* (Qld) pursuant to section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). This section governs the circumstances under which a party can apply for certain orders concerning children, and the Court was required to determine if the proposed adoption application fell within its purview and if the applicants had satisfied the necessary criteria for leave.

Forrest J granted the applicants leave to file the adoption application. The Court's reasoning, as evidenced by the orders made, was that the statutory requirements of section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975* had been met, permitting the applicants to proceed with their application for adoption under Queensland law. The Court exercised its discretion to grant leave, enabling the stepfather to formally adopt the children.