Cao and Chau

In *Cao and Chau*, Rees J of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia was required to determine the costs of substantive proceedings between the wife and the husband. The specific nature of the substantive dispute is not detailed in the provided text, but the outcome concerns the allocation of legal expenses.

The central legal issue before the court was the determination of which party should bear the costs of the litigation. This involved considering the conduct of the parties and the overall merits of the proceedings to decide whether a costs order should be made and, if so, on what basis.

Rees J ordered that the wife pay the costs of the husband in the substantive proceedings. These costs were to be on a party and party basis and were to be paid within three months of their agreement or assessment.