Sladin and Scabel

In the matter of *Sladin and Scabel*, Dessau J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application by the wife for contravention of court orders made by Carter J on 11 July 2007. The wife alleged five specific instances of contravention by the husband, having withdrawn a sixth allegation.

The central legal issue before Dessau J was whether the husband had contravened the orders of Carter J without reasonable excuse, as alleged by the wife. The court was required to determine the factual basis of the remaining five allegations and assess whether any contravention established was without reasonable excuse.

Dessau J found that five of the wife's allegations of contravention were proven, concluding that the husband had contravened the orders of Carter J without reasonable excuse. While no specific penalty was imposed on the husband, he was ordered to pay the wife's reasonable legal costs for the application, to be agreed or taxed. The court also directed that a transcript of the reasons for judgment be prepared with priority and sealed until after Carter J delivered her reasons in the main case. The wife's Form 18 application was otherwise dismissed.