Walford and Dore (No. 2)

In *Walford and Dore (No. 2)*, Mullane J of the Family Court of Australia considered applications brought by the father concerning his son, W. The proceedings involved a Contravention Application filed by the father on 26 April 2007 and an Amended Form 1 Application for final orders filed on 30 May 2005. The mother sought dismissal of these applications.

The primary legal issues before the court were whether the father's applications should be dismissed for want of prosecution and, if so, what orders should be made regarding future applications by the father and costs.

Mullane J dismissed both the father's Contravention Application and his Amended Form 1 Application for want of prosecution, finding that the father had failed to pursue these matters with due diligence. Consequently, the court made orders prohibiting the father from filing any further applications under the *Family Law Act* in relation to the parties' son without the Court's permission. Any such application for permission was to be heard in chambers without appearances and, unless otherwise ordered, without service on the mother. The father was also ordered to pay the mother $400 towards her expenses in defending the Contravention Application.