PARATA & COLE

In the matter of *Parata & Cole*, the Family Court of Australia considered an application by the father, Mr Parata, and the respondent, Ms Cole. The dispute concerned parenting proceedings, where the father had indicated an intention not to participate further. The Independent Children's Lawyer (ICL) sought to be discharged.

The primary legal issues before the Court were whether the Independent Children's Lawyer should be discharged, given the father's stated intention not to participate and the mother's discontinuance of parenting proceedings, and how to deal with an outstanding property adjustment application filed by the wife.

Justice Forrest, applying section 33B of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), reasoned that with the discontinuance of the parenting proceedings by the mother and the father's expressed intent not to participate, there were no ongoing parenting proceedings before the Court. Consequently, the ICL was discharged. The Court also ordered that the wife's property adjustment application be transferred to the Federal Circuit Court for determination, with consideration given to it being heard in the Rockhampton Registry.