S & S

[2005] FamCA 1195

[2005] FamCA 1195

FAMILY LAW ACT 1975

IN THE FAMILY COURT OF AUSTRALIA
AT BRISBANE      No. (P) BRF 2978 of 2004

BETWEEN:
  S

Applicant Wife

AND:

S

Respondent Husband

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

BEFORE THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE CARMODY

Date of Hearing:                 18 August 2005.

Date of Judgment:            17 November 2005.

Appearances:  Mr. Page of Senior Counsel, instructed by MacDonnells, Solicitors, of 14/259 Queen Street, Brisbane, Qld, 4000, appeared on behalf of the Applicant Wife.

Mr. Kirk of Senior Counsel, instructed by Evans & Company, Family Lawyers, of PO Box 7117, Gold Coast MC, Qld, 9726, appeared on behalf of the Respondent Husband.

Name of Case:  S AND S
File Number:  BRF 2978 of 2004
Date of Hearing:                 18 August 2005
Date of Judgment:              17 November 2005
Coram:  Carmody J

Catchwords:  FAMILY LAW – PROPERTY SETTLEMENT – General principles of adjustive jurisdiction under Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) – The s 79 process – “breadwinner” vs “homemaker” contributions – significance of substantial initial contributions in context of marriage of average duration.

Legislation:Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), ss 43, 72, 75(2), 79, 81, 117(2A)

Cases considered:              Aleksovski and Aleksovski (1996) FLC 92-705

Baumgartner and Baumgartner (1987) 164 CLR 137

Beneke and Beneke (1996) FLC 92-698

Biltoft and Biltoft (1995) FLC 92-614

Brandt and Brandt (1997) FLC 92-758

Bremner and Bremner (1995) FLC 92-560

B & R (Unreported, Full Court appeal No. EA 41/93, Ellis, Lindenmayer and Bell J, 21 September 1993)

Calverley v Green (1984) 155 CLR 242

Chorn and Hopkins (2004) FLC 93-204

Clauson and Clauson (1995) FLC 92-595

Collins and Collins (1990) FLC 92-149

Crawford and Crawford (1979) FLC 90-647

Dawes and Dawes (1990) FLC 92-108

Dickson and Dickson (1999) FLC 92-843
  Elias and Elias (1977) FLC 90-267

Evans and Marmont (1997) 41 NSWLR 70

Eves v Eves [1975] 3 All ER 768
  Farmer and Bramley (2000) FLC 93-060
  Ferraro and Ferraro (1993) FLC 92-353
  Fisher and Fisher (1986) 161 CLR 438
  G and G [2001] FamCA 1453
  GBT and BJT [2005] FamCA 683

Gissing v Gissing [1971] AC 886

Harris and Harris (1991) FLC 92-254

Hickey and Hickey (2003) FLC 93-143

Howlett v Neilson (2005) 33 Fam LR 402

Hunt and Zuryn (2005) FLC 93-226

Jordan and Jordan (1997) FLC 92-736

Kennon and Kennon (1997) FLC 92-757
  Lee Steere and Lee Steere (1985) FLC 91-626
  Mallet and Mallet (1984) 156 CLR 605
  McMahon and McMahon (1995) FLC 92-606
  Money and Money (1994) FLC 92-485
  Norbis and Norbis (1986) FLC 91-712
  Pettitt and Pettitt [1970] AC 777
  Phillips and Phillips (2002) FLC 93-104
  Pierce and Pierce (1998) FLC 92-844
  Robb and Robb (1995) FLC 92-055
  Roney and Roney (1979) FLC 90-709
  Rosati and Rosati (1998) FLC 92-804
  Shaw and Shaw (1989) FLC 92-010

Shewring and Shewring (1997) FLC 91-926

Waters and Jurek (1995) FLC 92-635
  Zyk and Zyk (1995) FLC 92-644

In her application for property settlement, the wife sought an order for a 50/50 division of property, as well as $500 per week for…