Rand and Rand

In the matter of *Rand and Rand*, Collier J of the Family Court of Australia considered the husband's contempt of court. The proceedings concerned the husband's failure to comply with previous orders made by the Court on 10 January 2006 and 24 October 2006.

The central legal issue before the Court was the appropriate penalty for the husband's contempt of the earlier orders. The Court was required to determine whether imprisonment was a necessary and proportionate response to the husband's non-compliance.

Collier J found the husband to be in contempt of both sets of orders. In relation to the contempt of the orders of 10 January 2006, the husband was sentenced to immediate imprisonment until discharged by order of the Court. For the contempt of the orders of 24 October 2006, the husband was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for a term of four months. The Court ordered that these two terms of imprisonment were to be served concurrently. A warrant of commitment was to issue forthwith.