Bale-Sutch and Bale-Sutch (No 2)

In *Bale-Sutch and Bale-Sutch (No 2)*, Justice Cronin of the Family Court of Australia considered applications concerning parenting arrangements for the children, S and R, and the husband's conduct. The dispute involved significant acrimony between the parents, leading to the discharge of previous orders and the need for new arrangements to govern the children's welfare and the parents' interactions.

The court was required to determine several key issues, including the appropriate parental responsibility for the children, whether the husband should be compelled to undergo a psychological assessment, and the extent to which the husband should be restrained from attending the children's school or making further applications to the court. Additionally, the court had to consider the husband's access to information regarding the children's health and education, and the appropriate means for communication between the husband and the children.

Justice Cronin reasoned that the existing orders were not serving the best interests of the children and that a significant shift in parental responsibility was necessary. The court found that the husband's application for a psychological assessment of the wife was not warranted and dismissed it. To protect the children, the husband was restrained from attending their school or activities without the wife's written consent or a court order, and was also required to seek leave before making future applications under Part VII of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). The court also established specific communication protocols, requiring the wife to provide the husband with details of the children's serious medical appointments, school reports, and counselling information, while permitting the husband to send cards, letters, and presents to the children via the wife.

The court ordered that the wife have sole parental responsibility for the children. The husband's application for the wife to undergo a psychological assessment was dismissed. The husband was restrained from attending the children's school or activities without the wife's written agreement or court order, and was also restrained from making further applications under Part VII of the *Family Law Act 1975* without leave. The wife was ordered to provide the husband with specific details regarding the children's health and education, and the husband was permitted to communicate with the children through cards, letters, and presents sent to the wife's address, with the wife required to pass these on. The Independent Children's Lawyer was discharged, and the husband was entitled to receive school newsletters and progress reports. The court also provided directions regarding the provision of its reasons for judgment to the school and the husband's ability to provide material to the Human Rights Commission. All other extant applications were dismissed.