Shoretsky and Shoretsky (No 2)

In the matter of *Shoretsky and Shoretsky (No 2)*, Bennett J of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia made orders concerning the conduct of proceedings between the mother and the father. The dispute involved issues relating to children, as indicated by the involvement of an independent children's lawyer and a family consultant.

The court was required to determine the procedural steps necessary to facilitate dispute resolution, specifically by ordering participation in a Round Table Dispute Management Conference. The court also needed to authorise the disclosure of various reports and documents to Victoria Legal Aid for the purpose of this conference.

Bennett J directed that the parties, along with their legal advisers, participate in a round table conference appointed by the independent children's lawyer. The court further authorised the independent children's lawyer to provide specific documents, including family reports, assessments, court documents, and other professional reports, to Victoria Legal Aid for the conference. The court also requested the availability of a family consultant for telephone discussions with the independent children's lawyer on the day of the conference and directed that the reasons for decision be transcribed and published. Finally, the court ordered that documents provided by the father be photocopied for the court file and distributed to the relevant parties, with the originals to be returned.