Brooks and Sloan

The case of *Brooks and Sloan* concerned an application for leave to commence adoption proceedings. The applicants, Mrs and Mr Brooks, sought to adopt a child born in May 2002. The respondent, Sloan, was presumably a parent or guardian of the child whose consent to the adoption was required. The application was heard by Justice Austin.

The central legal issue before the court was whether to grant leave pursuant to section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) for the adoption proceedings to be commenced. This section typically requires the consent of both parents to an adoption, and where consent is not forthcoming, an applicant must seek leave from the court to proceed.

Justice Austin granted the application for leave. While the specific reasons for granting leave are not detailed in the provided text, the court's decision indicates that the statutory threshold for permitting the commencement of adoption proceedings was met. The court exercised its discretion under section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) to allow the adoption process to move forward.

Consequently, the court ordered that leave be granted for proceedings to be commenced for the adoption of the child by Mrs and Mr Brooks.