Pint and Harper (No 2)

In the matter of *Pint and Harper (No 2)*, Cronin J considered a dispute between the mother and father concerning financial and parenting issues.

The court was required to determine the appropriate procedural steps to advance the proceedings towards a final hearing, including the management of various interim and contravention applications, and the filing of substantive evidence and financial statements by both parties.

Cronin J ordered that all outstanding interim and contravention applications by both parties be struck out or withdrawn. The substantive applications seeking final orders were adjourned for a two-day hearing before Justice Bennett commencing on 20 December 2010. For the purposes of both financial and parenting matters, the mother was deemed to be the applicant. Specific timelines were set for the applicant mother to file an amended application, evidence in chief, and a financial statement, and to pay the trial fee, unless a waiver was obtained. The respondent father was similarly required to file an amended response, evidence in chief, and a financial statement by a later date. Liberty was granted to the parties to approach the registrar to vary these obligations, and provision was made for a party to apply to the trial judge to proceed on an undefended basis should the other party fail to comply. Finally, the father, being an undischarged bankrupt, was ordered to provide details of outstanding applications to the Trustee of the Insolvency Trustee Service of Australia.