Steele and Wade

In the matter of Steele and Wade, heard before O’Reilly J, the applicant, Mr Steele, sought leave to commence adoption proceedings concerning a child, M, born in February 2000. The specific nature of the dispute, beyond the application for leave to commence adoption proceedings, is not detailed in the provided text.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether to grant Mr Steele leave to commence adoption proceedings, as contemplated by section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). This section governs the circumstances under which a person may apply for an adoption order.

O’Reilly J granted Mr Steele leave to commence adoption proceedings. The court's reasoning and the specific factors considered in reaching this decision are not elaborated upon in the provided extract, beyond the explicit reference to section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975*.

The court ordered that Mr Steele has leave to commence adoption proceedings for the adoption of the child M.