Sebastian & Sebastian (No 2)

In the matter of *Sebastian & Sebastian (No 2)*, heard in the Family Court of Australia at Melbourne, Ms Sebastian was the applicant and Mr Sebastian was the respondent. The dispute concerned proceedings under the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth).

The primary legal issue before the court was whether an order should be made to exclude witnesses from the courtroom and its vicinity until they had given their evidence, and to prohibit the communication of evidence discussed in court to other persons without leave.

Justice Young, in his judgment, ordered that all witnesses be excluded from the courtroom and its vicinity until they had given their evidence. Furthermore, unless leave of the court was obtained, no evidence of any matter discussed or raised in court was to be conveyed to any other person, except as authorised by the court or agreed to by Senior Counsel and the lawyers for both parties. The court clarified that this order was to ensure the privacy of discussions within the court and prevent their dissemination to others.