EAKINS & HIGGINS

In the Family Court of Australia, Rees J considered applications by a wife against her husband concerning child maintenance, spousal maintenance, and property settlement. The primary dispute involved the husband's financial obligations towards the parties' three children, the wife's need for spousal maintenance, and the division of matrimonial assets.

The court was required to determine whether to make interim orders for child maintenance, given the children were not resident in Australia. It also had to assess the wife's eligibility for spousal maintenance under section 72 of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), considering her financial position. Furthermore, the court needed to decide on an interim property settlement payment to the wife and whether to grant injunctions restraining the husband from dealing with certain properties.

Rees J ordered the husband to pay $1,150 per week for the maintenance of the children, noting his ample funds despite the children's non-residence in Australia. The application for spousal maintenance was dismissed, as the wife possessed substantial savings and was not unable to support herself. An interim property settlement payment of $200,000 was ordered to be paid to the wife, with the court finding this payment would not be irrecoverable at a final hearing. Additionally, interim injunctions were made, restraining the husband from disposing of specified real properties without providing the wife 28 days' notice.