Abad-Booton and Abad-Booton (No. 2)

This matter concerned an application before Brown J in the Family Court of Australia, brought by the wife against the husband. The dispute revolved around interim orders concerning parental responsibility, the children's living arrangements, and spousal maintenance, following an earlier order made on 5 July 2007.

The court was required to determine a range of issues including the discharge of a previous order, the allocation of parental responsibility, the children's residence, and the husband's time with the children. Further issues included the arrangements for contact changeovers, the preparation of a welfare report, the independent representation of the children, and the husband's compliance with drug and alcohol restrictions. The court also addressed interim spousal maintenance, financial disclosure obligations for the husband, and the wife's leave to issue subpoenas.

In its reasoning, the court made orders discharging a prior paragraph, establishing parental responsibility under s.61C of the *Family Law Act 1975*, and ordering that the children live with the wife. The husband was granted specific, limited time with the children, and consent orders were made regarding contact changeovers at a community centre and the preparation of a welfare report, with initial costs borne by the husband. The court also ordered independent legal representation for the children pursuant to s.68L(2) of the Act, and imposed drug and alcohol restrictions on the husband during his time with the children. Interim spousal maintenance was ordered, with further directions given for the adjourned hearing of the wife's application. The husband was directed to provide extensive financial disclosure, and the wife was granted leave to issue subpoenas to various entities. The court also set dates for further hearings and a conciliation conference, and included a fact sheet detailing the obligations and consequences of contravening the orders.