AKBAR & ELANI

In the Family Court of Australia, Hannam J considered parenting orders concerning two children, B and C. The proceedings were undefended, with the father not attending. The dispute centred on the best interests of the children, particularly in light of allegations of family violence, including physical and verbal abuse, and sexual abuse directed at the children by the father.

The court was required to determine whether it was in the best interests of the children to live with the mother and spend no time with the father, and whether the mother should hold sole parental responsibility. Further issues included the father's communication with the children, international travel, and the prevention of denigration of either parent in the children's presence.

Hannam J applied the principles of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), focusing on the paramount consideration of the best interests of the children. The court found that the allegations of family violence, including physical, verbal, and sexual abuse, were sufficiently serious to warrant orders that the children live with the mother and spend no time with the father. The father's non-attendance and the nature of the allegations led the court to conclude that sole parental responsibility for the mother was in the children's best interests.

The court made orders granting the mother sole parental responsibility for the children, that the children live with the mother, and that they spend no time with the father. The father was also restrained from communicating with the children, obtaining passports for them, and from removing them from the Commonwealth of Australia. Both parties were restrained from denigrating the other parent in the children's presence. The Australian Federal Police were requested to place the children's names on the Airport Watch List.