Morrison and Morrison

The Family Court of Australia considered a property settlement dispute between Mr Morrison (the Applicant husband) and Ms Morrison (the Respondent wife). The parties sought orders regarding the division of their assets, including the proceeds from the sale of the former matrimonial home and Mr Morrison's superannuation interests. The marriage was long, commencing in 1988, with a period of separation under the one roof between April 2004 and July 2007, and a final separation in December 2011.

The court was required to determine the appropriate division of the parties' property, including the distribution of remaining proceeds from the sale of the former matrimonial home and the splitting of Mr Morrison's superannuation entitlements. Key issues included assessing the contributions of each party to the marriage, both financially and non-financially, and considering any relevant factors under section 75(2) of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) that might warrant an adjustment to the property division. The court also had to address the specific requirements for splitting superannuation interests under the *Family Law (Superannuation) Regulations 2001* (Cth).

The court found that contributions were deemed equal throughout the marriage. In its reasoning, the court applied principles of property adjustment in long marriages, acknowledging the contributions of both parties as homemakers and parents, as well as their financial contributions. The court ordered that the remaining proceeds of the former matrimonial home, totalling $71,658, be paid to the wife. Furthermore, a base amount of $144,624 was allocated to Ms Morrison from Mr Morrison's interest in the State Authorities Superannuation Scheme, with the trustee directed to calculate and pay this entitlement in accordance with the relevant legislation. The court also declared each party to be the sole owner of other assets in their possession, subject to the specific orders made regarding the superannuation split.