Pacton and Fable

In the matter of Pacton and Fable, heard before Rees J, the applicants, Mr and Ms Pacton, sought leave to commence adoption proceedings concerning a child, B, born in 2002. The specific nature of the dispute necessitating this application for leave is not detailed, but the application itself indicates a procedural hurdle requiring judicial permission before formal adoption proceedings could be initiated.

The central legal issue before the court was whether to grant leave to the Pactons to commence adoption proceedings, as contemplated by section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). This section typically requires a party to obtain leave of the court before commencing proceedings for an adoption order, suggesting that the applicants did not meet the usual criteria for commencing such proceedings without prior judicial authorisation.

Rees J considered the application and, pursuant to section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975*, granted leave to Mr and Ms Pacton to commence proceedings for the adoption of B. The court's reasoning for granting this leave is not elaborated upon in the provided text, but the order signifies that the applicants have satisfied the necessary threshold to proceed with their adoption application.