Spiteri and Walker (No 2)

In *Spiteri and Walker (No 2)*, Gill J of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia considered multiple applications for contravention filed by the Applicant against the Respondent. The dispute centred on allegations of breaches of court orders, with the Applicant seeking to prove contraventions and the Respondent seeking to have the applications dismissed.

The court was required to determine which, if any, of the numerous contravention allegations were proven and whether the Respondent had a reasonable excuse for any proven contraventions. The court also had to consider the appropriate orders to make, including costs, in relation to the various applications.

Gill J dismissed most of the contravention allegations across the various applications. However, the court found that Item 8 of the Application for Contravention filed on 3 March 2014 was proven, with no reasonable excuse found for the contravention. Similarly, Count 7 of the Application for Contravention filed on 23 July 2014 was proven, but a reasonable excuse was found. Count 4 of the Application for Contravention filed on 3 November 2014 was also proven, with consequential orders reserved. The court made no order as to costs in relation to most of the dismissed applications, but ordered the Applicant to pay the Respondent's costs in respect of certain dismissed items from the 3 March 2014 application. The matter was adjourned for further hearing on remaining contravention applications, with directions given for the provision of chronologies and objections.