Bondelmonte and Bondelmonte (No 3)

In *Bondelmonte and Bondelmonte (No 3)*, Watts J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application by the wife for access to files held by the Federal Court of Australia in relation to proceedings numbered NSD … of 2015 and SAD … of 2015. The dispute concerned the wife's desire to inspect these files, which were relevant to the ongoing Family Court proceedings.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether to grant the wife's request for the Family Court to obtain copies of the Federal Court files. This involved considering the practicalities of such a request, including potential costs and logistical challenges, and determining the conditions under which access should be granted. The court also had to address an application for costs made by the wife in relation to interim proceedings.

Watts J ordered that the Registrar of the Family Court request the Registrar of the Federal Court to make available copies of the specified files. The order stipulated that the Federal Court Registrar should indicate any logistical difficulties, such as document volume or photocopying needs, in which case the matter would be relisted. The wife was to be responsible for photocopying costs in the first instance, with liberty to apply for the husband to contribute. Leave was granted for the wife's lawyers to inspect the files after 28 days, with conditions on the wife's access to and discussion of the information obtained. The court also set a timetable for the filing of submissions regarding the wife's costs application and scheduled further oral argument on that matter.