The parens patriae jurisdiction of the Supreme Court will not be exercised to disrupt orderly Children's Court proceedings absent exceptional circumstances, and a change in circumstances (such as the Children's Court making final findings on the establishment question) may render an appeal from an earlier refusal to exercise that jurisdiction futile. Proceedings concerning the welfare of children are incapable of valuation for the purposes of s 101(2)(r) of the Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), requiring leave to appeal.
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