DIRECTOR-GENERAL, NSW DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES V. "A" & ORS. [2000] NSWSC 1179

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : DIRECTOR-GENERAL, NSW DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES V. "A" & ORS. [2000] NSWSC 1179 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity Division FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 3040/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 7 October 2000 JUDGMENT DATE : 13 December 2000

Director-General, NSW Department of Community Services - plaintiff "A" - first defendant PARTIES : "B" - second defendant "C" - third defendant "D" - fourth defendant JUDGMENT OF : Hodgson CJinEq at 1

Mr. G. Moore for plaintiff Mr. T.F. Robertson for A COUNSEL : Mr. M. Anderson for B Miss P. Nash for C Mr. D O'Neil for D I.V. Knight, Crown Solicitor, Sydney for plaintiff Leonie Miller, Solicitor for A SOLICITORS : No solicitor on record for B Legal Aid Commission, Sydney for C No solicitor on record for D CATCHWORDS : FAMILY LAW AND CHILD WELFARE - Declaration of paternity - Child of 12 year old girl alleged to be that of her 13 year old brother - Whether DNA test should be ordered - Whether paternity proved on other evidence - Whether declaration should be made. Statutes of Children Act 1996 ss.21, 22, 26, 28, 29 LEGISLATION CITED : Births Deaths & Marriages Registration Act 1995 ss.4, 12, 15, 43, 46, 47, 48 Evidence Act ss.60, 64, 136 E v. H (1986) 7 NSWLR 212 CASES CITED : G v. H (1993) 16 FamLR 525 G v. H (1994) 181 CLR 387 Roberts v. Balancio (1987) 8 NSWLR 436 DECISION : See end of judgment