D v Director-General Department of Community Services & (No 2)

The case of *D v Director-General Department of Community Services & (No 2)* concerned an appeal to the Supreme Court of New South Wales. The appellant, D, sought orders regarding the best interests of a child, and the Director-General of the Department of Community Services was the respondent. The appeal resulted in a new hearing being ordered.

The primary legal issue before the Court was the appropriate disposition of costs following the appeal. The appellant had achieved only partial success in the appeal, leading to the question of whether any party should bear the costs of the proceedings.

The Court determined that, given the partial success of the appellant and the complex nature of the proceedings concerning a child's welfare, it was appropriate to make no order as to costs. This approach reflects a common practice in family law and child protection matters where the focus is on the welfare of the child and the costs incurred by parties involved in such sensitive litigation.

Consequently, the Court made no order as to costs.