ARCHIBALD & MCNAB

This matter concerned parenting orders made by Judge Lapthorn in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia. The dispute involved the mother, Ms Archibald, and the father, Mr McNab, regarding the future care and time arrangements for their child, X.

The court was required to determine the specific orders concerning parental responsibility, the child's living arrangements, and the nature and progression of the father's time with the child. Further issues included the provision of information between parents regarding the child's schooling and medical care, communication protocols, and prohibitions against denigration. The court also addressed the significant issue of the child's potential removal from Australia.

Judge Lapthorn discharged all previous parenting orders and made new orders that granted the mother sole parental responsibility for the child. The child was ordered to live with the mother, with a detailed, staged schedule for the father's time with the child, commencing with short, supervised periods and gradually increasing in duration and independence over several years. The orders also stipulated specific arrangements for communication, including the use of a communication book and mobile numbers for urgent matters, and prohibited denigration of either parent. Crucially, the court issued an injunction restraining the removal of the child from the Commonwealth of Australia until she attained the age of 16, requesting the Australian Federal Police to place the child on the Family Law Watchlist. The court also requested the mother consider counselling to assist with the child spending time with the father.