Massey and Massey and Anor (No. 3)

In *Massey and Massey and Anor (No. 3)*, Young J of the Family Court of Australia was required to determine the property settlement and associated financial matters between the husband and wife, and also to address the claim of an intervenor. The proceedings involved a complex pool of assets including farming lands, plant and equipment, livestock, and crops, as well as significant liabilities. The court's task was to equitably distribute these assets and liabilities between the parties, taking into account various financial contributions, inheritances, and the specific circumstances of the marriage.

The legal issues before the court included the division of the parties' property under section 79 of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), the application of section 75(2) factors, the resolution of the intervenor's claim, the allocation of tax liabilities, and the determination of child support obligations. The court also had to consider the sale of various properties and assets, the application of sale proceeds, and the ultimate responsibility for outstanding debts and liabilities.

Young J applied established principles of family law to determine the property settlement. The court meticulously detailed the orders for the sale of specific properties, including the "C Property" and "T Property," and the application of sale proceeds to satisfy various debts, including those owed to the intervenor and the wife, as well as mortgage obligations. Orders were made for the clearance sale of plant and equipment, with proceeds to be applied towards specific debts and payments to the intervenor and wife. The court also directed the sale of the husband's wheat and barley crops, with specific allocations of the proceeds to cover crop liens, payments to the intervenor and wife, and child support arrears. Further lump sum payments were ordered to the wife, with default provisions involving the sale of "T Property." The court clarified the retention of remaining assets by each party and their respective liabilities, including significant debts to Rural Finance Corporation and bank overdrafts. Finally, the court made detailed orders regarding child support assessments for the period of 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2009, specifying lump sum non-periodic payments.