Woodbury and Anor and Fowler (No 2)

This matter concerned an application for leave to commence adoption proceedings in the Family Court of Australia. The applicants, Mr Woodbury and another party (referred to as "Anor"), sought leave to adopt a child, X, born in 2010. The respondent was identified as Fowler.

The central legal issue before Gill J was whether to grant leave for the adoption proceedings to be commenced, pursuant to section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). This required the Court to consider the specific circumstances of the case and whether it was in the best interests of the child, X, to permit the adoption by a prescribed adopting parent, Mr Woodbury.

Gill J granted leave for the adoption proceedings to be commenced. The Court's decision was based on the provisions of section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), which allows for the commencement of adoption proceedings under specific circumstances and upon the Court being satisfied that it is appropriate to do so. The order specified that leave was granted for adoption proceedings to be commenced in respect of X by Mr Woodbury, a prescribed adopting parent.