Vale and Vale (No 4)

In *Vale and Vale (No 4)*, Tree J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application by the father for a recovery order concerning the child, B. The mother had orally applied to adjourn the hearing of this application.

The primary legal issues before the court were whether the interests of justice favoured an adjournment of the father's application for a recovery order, and if not, whether a recovery order should be made in favour of the father, considering the child's best interests.

Tree J dismissed the mother's application for an adjournment, finding that the interests of justice did not weigh in favour of granting it. The court then made a recovery order, authorising the Marshal of the Family Court, officers of the Australian Federal Police, and officers of state and territory police forces to find and recover the child. The order directed that the child be delivered to the applicant father and would remain in force for a period of twelve months.