Redmond and Redmond and Anor

In the matter of *Redmond and Redmond and Anor*, Forrest J of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia considered competing applications for property adjustment orders between the applicant, Mr Redmond, the respondent, Ms Redmond, and an intervener. The parties had sought to have final property adjustment orders made by consent, but this joint oral application was dismissed by the court.

The primary legal issue before the court was how to manage the competing property adjustment applications alongside existing parenting orders proceedings. The court was required to determine the procedural steps necessary to ensure a fair and efficient hearing of all matters.

Forrest J directed that the property adjustment proceedings be listed for hearing concurrently with the parenting orders proceedings over three days in late October 2014. The court also issued detailed directions regarding the filing and service of affidavits of evidence in chief, including provisions for the applicant, respondent, and intervener to include any further evidence they intended to rely upon for both the property adjustment and parenting matters. Specific timelines were set for the exchange of this evidence, with an emphasis on ensuring the intervener received all relevant material. Further directions were given concerning the filing of evidence in reply and the preparation of minutes of orders encompassing all sought orders for both property adjustment and parenting proceedings.