MWP & LMP

The case of *MWP & LMP* concerned an application for leave to appeal a decision of the Family Court of Australia. The applicants, MWP and LMP, sought to appeal orders made by a judge of the Family Court concerning property settlement.

The primary legal issue before the Full Court of the Family Court was whether the primary judge had erred in their assessment of the parties' respective contributions, both financial and non-financial, to the marriage and the acquisition, conservation, and improvement of the matrimonial property. Specifically, the court was required to consider whether the primary judge had given sufficient weight to the non-financial contributions of one of the parties.

In its reasoning, the Full Court affirmed the well-established principles governing property settlement under the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), including the need to consider the four-factor test under section 75(2) of the Act. The court emphasised that the assessment of contributions is a holistic exercise and that non-financial contributions, such as homemaking and parenting, are of equal importance to financial contributions. The Full Court found that the primary judge had not erred in their approach to the assessment of contributions and had properly applied the relevant legal principles.

The Full Court therefore dismissed the application for leave to appeal.