Salah and Aharat

In the matter of *Salah and Aharat*, heard before Stevenson J, the applicant, Mr Salah, sought a costs certificate in relation to discontinued proceedings and a subsequent review. The precise nature of the original dispute between Mr Salah and Aharat is not detailed, but the application for the costs certificate indicates that Mr Salah incurred costs in relation to these proceedings.

The central legal issue before the Court was whether it was appropriate to grant Mr Salah a costs certificate under section 10(3) of the *Federal Proceedings (Costs) Act 1981*. This required the Court to consider the circumstances of the discontinued proceedings and the review, and to form an opinion on the appropriateness of the Attorney-General organising payment of Mr Salah's costs.

Stevenson J reasoned that a costs certificate should be granted, opining that it would be appropriate for the Attorney-General to organise payment under the *Federal Proceedings (Costs) Act 1981* to Mr Salah. The Court's decision reflects an assessment that the circumstances warranted the exercise of its discretion to certify for costs, allowing for potential reimbursement of expenses incurred by the applicant.

Accordingly, the Court ordered that a costs certificate be granted to Mr Salah pursuant to section 10(3) of the *Federal Proceedings (Costs) Act 1981*, certifying that it would be appropriate for the Attorney-General to organise payment to him in respect of such part of his costs as the Attorney-General considers appropriate.