Stankic and Cagnani & Anor

In *Stankic and Cagnani & Anor*, the wife sought leave from the Family Court of Australia to inspect a Federal Circuit Court file. The Federal Circuit Court proceedings involved the husband's brother, who objected to the wife's request for inspection.

The primary legal issue before the Family Court was whether it possessed the jurisdiction to grant leave for the inspection of a Federal Circuit Court file, particularly when one of the parties to those proceedings objected.

McClelland J reasoned that legislative amendments concerning the administration of the courts did not diminish their judicial independence. His Honour concluded that it was more appropriate for leave to be sought directly from the Federal Circuit Court itself, rather than from the Family Court. Consequently, the wife's application was dismissed.