Pinter and Anor and Gilliardo

The applicants, Mr Pinter and Ms Gilliardo, sought leave to commence adoption proceedings in the Supreme Court of Western Australia. The dispute concerned the adoption of a child, B, born in 2006, by Mr Pinter. The matter came before Cronin J.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether to grant the applicants leave to commence proceedings for the adoption of B by Mr Pinter, pursuant to section 60G(1) of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). This section requires leave to be granted before proceedings for adoption can be commenced in certain circumstances. The court also considered the issue of parental responsibility for the child.

Cronin J reasoned that the existing orders made by the Suburb C Magistrates Court on 16 November 2009 were no longer appropriate and should be discharged. The court granted the applicants leave to commence adoption proceedings, finding it was in the child's best interests. Furthermore, the court ordered that the applicants have equal shared parental responsibility for the child. The application filed on 3 October 2014 was otherwise dismissed.