The Court refused leave under s 35A(3) of the Ombudsman Act 1974 (NSW) to join the NSW Ombudsman, holding that prolonged inactivity and persistent refusals to investigate complaints did not, on the evidence, establish a substantial ground for bad faith — the Ombudsman's responses reflected a legitimate exercise of discretion under s 13 of the Act. The Court struck out the plaintiff's statement of claim as fundamentally non-compliant with UCPR Pt 59 requirements for judicial review proceedings, finding it impossible to identify the individual decisions challenged, the relevant decision-makers, or specific grounds, but declined to dismiss the proceedings entirely, granting leave to re-file by summons given the breadth of the plaintiff's complaints extended beyond contact arrangements amenable to the Children's Court. The Court cautioned against the use of AI to draft pleadings, noting the resulting document was replete with evidence, submissions and grand statements of principle rather than the material facts required.
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