Acharya and Sinha

In the matter of *Acharya and Sinha*, heard by Hannam J, the court was required to make orders concerning the parental responsibility and time arrangements for the child S, born in 2010, between her parents, Ms Sinha (the mother) and Mr Acharya (the father). The dispute centred on how the child would live, spend time with each parent, and how major and non-major long-term decisions would be made, particularly in light of the father's impending return to the United Kingdom.

The legal issues before the court included determining the nature of parental responsibility, specifically whether it should be equal shared parental responsibility or sole parental responsibility for certain decisions. The court also had to establish the living arrangements for the child, including the frequency and duration of time the child would spend with each parent, both before and after the father's relocation to the United Kingdom. Further issues involved the practicalities of communication between the child and the father, the allocation of travel costs, and the provision of information regarding the child's health, education, and general well-being.

Hannam J ordered that the parents have equal shared parental responsibility for the child. However, the mother was granted sole parental responsibility for non-major long-term decisions when the child was with her, and the father was granted the same when the child was with him. The child was ordered to live with the mother, with specific provisions for alternate week living arrangements with the father until his return to the United Kingdom. Post-relocation, the child was to spend time with the father in Australia during his visits and for a minimum of three weeks annually in the United Kingdom, subject to conditions including the mother's presence during the first week of the child's time with the father and limitations on consecutive nights spent with the father. The orders also detailed extensive communication arrangements, including electronic and telephone contact, and addressed the sharing of travel expenses, passport management, and the exchange of information concerning the child.