Admissions: 2017
Education: Bachelor of Economics / Bachelor of Laws

RECENT PUBLISHED DECISIONS

Littlefield & Pemble (No 3) [2024] FedCFamC1F 767

PARENTING – Allegations of sexual abuse of the child by the father – Allegations that child at unacceptable risk of abuse in the care of the father – Assertions by father that mother has made false allegations against him – Court is not satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the father has sexually abused the child – Court unable to conclude that the father poses an unacceptable risk of sexually abusing the child – Mother genuine but mistaken in her allegations – Issue of mother’s mental health – Considerations of mother continuing to make false allegations against the father – Child’s best interests – Orders that child live with the mother – Orders that child initially spend supervised time with the father graduating to week about time with the father in 2026 – Orders that parents retain joint parental responsibility and joint decision-making in respect of all decisions concerning major long-term issues pertaining to the child

Equity Australia Corporation Pty Ltd v Aldridge [2024] TASMC 6
Costs – principle giving discretion to order indemnity costs on the basis of some relevant dishonesty on the part of the unsuccessful party – high-handed or impudent reliance on defence known to be untrue – order made

Tasmania v Cooke [2023] TASSC 32
Criminal law – Procedure – Adjournment, stay of proceedings or order restraining proceedings – Stay of proceedings – Abuse of process – In general – Fair Trial – Fundamental defect – Audio Visual record of police interview with accused lost and unable to be recovered – Exculpatory statements that he acted in self-defence. – Loss of record results in substantial disadvantage to defence – Ameliorated by evidence of accused statements and directions to jury.