Family Law Act 1975

This Part sets out the court’s powers to deal with proceedings that are unmeritorious, harmful, or vexatious.

Unmeritorious proceedings are proceedings that are without reasonable prospect of success, frivolous, vexatious, or an abuse of process.

Harmful proceedings are proceedings that may result in harm to another party, or to a child involved in the proceedings. The kinds of harms that might provide grounds for such an order could include severe stress (that could arise, for example, from repeated filings of applications against the respondent).

Vexatious proceedings include proceedings that are an abuse of process, proceedings instituted without reasonable grounds, and proceedings instituted or conducted for a wrongful purpose.