Baldock and Morrison and Anor

This matter concerned an application before Judge Brown regarding the living arrangements and time spent with a child, X, born in 2005. The parties involved were Ms Baldock and Ms Morrison, and an unnamed second respondent, with the dispute centering on the welfare and best interests of the child.

The court was required to determine the primary residence of the child, the terms of the child's time spent with the father, and the terms of the child's time spent with the maternal grandmother. Furthermore, the court needed to consider the appropriate forum for future proceedings and the independent representation of the child.

In its reasoning, the court made orders for the child X to live with the mother, and pending the mother's relocation to Queensland, to live with the paternal aunt, Ms D. The child was ordered to spend time with the father at times to be agreed between the parents, and with the maternal grandmother at times to be agreed, or during the Queensland mid-year school holidays in a specified area. The court also ordered that, subject to the mother relocating to Queensland, the child be independently represented by an Independent Children’s Lawyer, with Legal Aid Queensland requested to arrange this representation. The Independent Children’s Lawyer was granted liberty to peruse the court file and obtain copies, and all parties were directed to comply with the lawyer's lawful directions regarding report preparation. Further consideration of the matter was adjourned for directions.