DAVIES & WEST

In the matter of *DAVIES & WEST*, Hannam J considered an application for the Secretary of the NSW Department of Family and Community Services to intervene in proceedings. The specific nature of the underlying dispute between the parties is not detailed in the provided text, but the application for intervention by a government department suggests it involves matters of child welfare or protection.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether to grant leave for the Secretary to intervene in the proceedings and to inspect and copy documents on the court file. This required the court to consider the relevant provisions of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) and the *Family Law Rules 2004* (Cth) governing intervention and access to court records.

Hannam J ordered that the Secretary of the NSW Department of Family and Community Services be requested to intervene in the proceedings pursuant to Section 91B of the *Family Law Act 1975*. The court further ordered that if the Secretary intervenes, a Notice of Intervention is to be filed and served as soon as practicable. Additionally, leave was granted under Rule 24.13 of the *Family Law Rules 2004* for the Secretary, or their delegate, to inspect and copy any documents on the court file.