Secretary, Department of Family and Community Services and Mayer

The Secretary of the Department of Family and Community Services (the Secretary) and Mayer were parties to proceedings before Stevenson J in the Supreme Court of New South Wales. The nature of the dispute involved applications and responses that were ultimately dismissed by the Court.

The central legal issue before the Court was the determination of the status and fate of outstanding applications and responses filed in the proceedings. This required the Court to consider whether these applications and responses should continue or be brought to an end.

Stevenson J reasoned that the existing orders made on 14 October 2016 were no longer appropriate and therefore discharged them. Consequently, the Court ordered that all outstanding applications and responses be dismissed, effectively concluding those aspects of the proceedings.