MacDougal and Benson and Anor (No. 2)

In *MacDougal and Benson and Anor (No. 2)*, Justice Macmillan of the Family Court of Australia considered applications for final property orders. The proceedings involved the husband, the wife, and a second respondent, with the court tasked with determining the appropriate procedural steps and timelines for the resolution of the property dispute.

The court was required to establish a clear pathway for the final determination of the property settlement. This involved setting deadlines for the filing and service of further affidavits, statements of sought orders, and any applications to join additional parties. Furthermore, the court needed to manage the preparation of the case by requiring parties to file concise sets of orders, lists of evidence and interests, objections to evidence, and summaries of argument, with specific attention to the husband's responsibility for trial fees.

Justice Macmillan's reasoning focused on ensuring that all parties were adequately prepared for the final hearing and that the court had a comprehensive understanding of the issues in dispute. The orders reflect a structured approach to case management, aiming to streamline the process and avoid unnecessary delays. The court emphasised the need for precision in the parties' submissions and reserved the question of the second respondent's further case outline for a subsequent mention. The final orders adjourned the applications for final property orders for hearing on a specific date, with a series of interim procedural steps to be completed beforehand.