GRAHAM & KOVACS

The parties in this matter were the father and the mother. The dispute concerned various applications and contravention proceedings filed by the father, as well as the mother's initiating application. The case was heard by Tree J in the Family Court of Australia.

The court was required to determine whether the father's applications constituted an abuse of process and whether he should be restrained from instituting further proceedings without leave. Additionally, the court considered the father's application to give evidence by telephone in contravention proceedings and applications.

Tree J found that the father's conduct amounted to an abuse of process, justifying orders under s 102Q of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) to restrain him from commencing further proceedings without leave. The court was not persuaded that the father's assertions were sufficient to justify permitting him to appear by telephone, indicating a lack of compelling reasons for such an accommodation.

Consequently, the father's Application in a Case filed on 2 December 2015 was struck out. The mother's Initiating Application filed on 27 October 2015 was dismissed. All other outstanding applications in the trial division were dismissed, and the matter was removed from the list of active pending cases.