Croker and Melati

The applicant, Croker, sought orders against the respondent, Melati, in the Family Court of Australia. The precise nature of the dispute is not detailed in the provided text, but it involved proceedings for which the court considered the reasonableness of engaging counsel and awarded costs.

The court was required to determine the appropriate costs to be awarded to the respondent and whether it was reasonable for the parties to have engaged counsel in the proceedings. The court also expressed a view regarding the waiver of filing fees for any future application for divorce filed by either party.

Johnston J dismissed the applicant's Initiating Application and certified that it was reasonable for the parties to engage counsel. The court ordered the applicant to pay $5,000 to the respondent's solicitors for costs. In a notation, the court indicated its view that any filing fee for a divorce application by either party should be waived.