Reid and Hastings

In the matter of *Reid and Hastings*, heard before Hannam J, the proceedings concerned a dispute between the parties, the nature of which is not specified in the provided text. The court's orders indicate a need for further directions and the potential intervention of the Secretary of the NSW Department of Family and Community Services.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the Secretary of the NSW Department of Family and Community Services should be permitted to intervene in the proceedings. This required the court to consider the relevant provisions of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) and the *Family Law Rules 2004* (Cth) concerning intervention and access to court documents.

Hannam J ordered that the Secretary of the NSW Department of Family and Community Services be requested to intervene in the proceedings pursuant to Section 91B of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). If the Secretary intervened, they were to file and serve a Notice of Intervention by 18 December 2017. Furthermore, leave was granted pursuant to Rule 24.13 of the *Family Law Rules 2004* (Cth) for the Secretary, or their delegate, to inspect and copy documents on the court file. The court also requested the attendance of an officer from the Department on the adjourned date. The parties were informed that leave would likely be granted to rely on an additional affidavit concerning matters arising after the filing of their consolidated affidavits. The proceedings were adjourned for further directions on 18 December 2017.