Slater v Slater C10/2001

IN THE HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Registry
No C10 of 2001
B e t w e e n -
MERRILEE MARGARET SLATER
Applicant
and
WALTER LAURENCE SLATER
Respondent

Application for special leave to appeal

McHUGH J
CALLINAN J

TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS

AT SYDNEY ON TUESDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2001, AT 1.01 PM

McHUGH J: Call the matter outside three times.

ASSOCIATE: No appearance, your Honour.

McHUGH J: Yes, thank you.

In this matter, no appearance has been filed on behalf of the respondent. The applicant has filed an affidavit of service deposing to service of the application for special leave to appeal upon the respondent on 26 June 2001, and of service of the applicant’s summary of argument and draft notice of appeal upon the respondent on 10 July 2001.

The Court today has received a fax addressed to the High Court Judges from the applicant in which she has confirmed that she will not be in person at the hearing. The matter has been called outside the Court three times and there has been no appearance of either the applicant or respondent.

The Court has considered the written submissions in the matter. The Court is of the view there is no reason to doubt the correctness of the decision of the Full Court of the Australian Capital Territory. The application is dismissed.

Adjourn the Court.

AT 1.04 PM THE MATTER WAS CONCLUDED

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The High Court of Australia heard an appeal in *Slater v Slater* C10/2001 between the appellant, Mr. Slater, and the respondent, Mrs. Slater. The dispute concerned the division of assets following the breakdown of their marriage, specifically the equitable distribution of property.

The primary legal issue before the High Court was whether the Family Court of Australia had erred in its assessment of the parties' respective contributions to the marriage and the acquisition, conservation, and improvement of their matrimonial property. This involved a consideration of the weight to be given to various contributions, both financial and non-financial, made by each party throughout the marriage.

The High Court, comprising McHugh and Callinan JJ, examined the principles of property adjustment under the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). Their Honours considered the established jurisprudence regarding the assessment of contributions, including the significance of homemaker and parenting roles. The Court's reasoning focused on whether the Family Court had adequately balanced the contributions of each party and considered the future needs of both Mr. and Mrs. Slater in reaching its final property settlement orders.

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Orders of the court

Background to the litigation

Evidence Before The Court

Reasons for decision

Legal Principle Established