Matel and Anifant

The matter of *Matel and Anifant* concerned an application before Cronin J in the Family Court of Australia. The dispute involved applications for interim and final orders relating to a child, with the father and mother having filed separate applications for interim relief.

The primary legal issues before the court were whether to grant the interim orders sought by the father and mother, and how to manage the progression of the applications for final orders. The court also considered the filing of further affidavit material and applications by the parties.

Cronin J dismissed the applications for interim orders filed by both the father and the mother. The court adjourned all applications for final orders for a less adversarial trial to commence on 10 March 2009. Crucially, the court ordered that no party was to file further affidavit material or applications, with the sole exception being in relation to any breach of the orders made on 19 September 2008 concerning the child's return from the United States of America. Liberty to apply was granted.