(1) If, at any time
after the commencement of child-related proceedings and before making final
orders, the court considers that it may assist in the determination of the
dispute between the parties, the court may do any or all of the following
—
(a) make
a finding of fact in relation to the proceedings;
(b)
determine a matter arising out of the proceedings;
(c) make
an order in relation to an issue arising out of the proceedings.
(2) Subsection (1)
does not prevent the court doing something mentioned in subsection (1)(a), (b)
or (c) at the same time as making final orders.
(3) To avoid doubt, a
judge, registrar or magistrate who exercises a power under subsection (1) in
relation to proceedings is not, merely because of having exercised the power,
required to disqualify himself or herself from a further hearing of the
proceedings.
[Section 202F inserted: No. 35 of 2006 s. 105.]