West and Hopper (No. 2)

In *West and Hopper (No. 2)*, the Family Court of Australia, constituted by Cronin J, dealt with applications made by both the husband and the wife. The proceedings concerned matters arising from their marital relationship, with the wife failing to prosecute her application.

The central legal issue before the court was whether to strike out the extant applications, particularly in light of the wife's failure to prosecute her own application. The court also had to consider the appropriate orders regarding the costs of the proceedings.

Cronin J ordered that all extant applications be struck out by consent of the husband and due to the wife's failure to prosecute her application. The court further ordered that the wife pay the husband's costs of these proceedings, subject to any existing costs orders, and that these costs be assessed in default of agreement. All proceedings were removed from the list of cases awaiting a hearing, and the husband's solicitor was directed to serve a copy of the reasons upon the wife by post.