Attorney-General's Department and Economou

In the matter of the Attorney-General's Department and Economou, Kent J of the Family Court of Australia made orders concerning the welfare of three children, O, B, and C, and their parents, Ms Economou and Mr Economou. The dispute involved an application for orders to prevent the children from being removed from Australia, and to secure passports and air tickets related to the children and the Respondent.

The court was required to determine whether to grant interim orders restraining the removal of the children from the Commonwealth of Australia, and to order the surrender of passports and air tickets. Further issues included restraining the Respondent from departing Australia and from applying for new passports for the children, and authorising law enforcement agencies to give effect to these orders.

Kent J reasoned that it was necessary to make these orders to protect the children's interests and to ensure the court's jurisdiction was maintained. The court applied principles relating to the protection of children and the court's power to make orders preventing international travel in family law proceedings. The orders made were designed to prevent the children from being taken out of Australia without the court's permission and to secure travel documents.

The court ordered that, until further order, both parents were restrained from removing the children from Australia. The Respondent was ordered to surrender his and the children's passports and air tickets, and was restrained from departing Australia. The Australian Federal Police and other law enforcement officers were authorised to place the names of the Respondent and the children on watch lists and to seize travel documents. The Respondent was also restrained from applying for further passports for the children. The matter was listed for directions, and parties were granted liberty to apply on short notice.