BARNSLEY & GAYNOR (No.2)

This case concerned parenting orders for a four-year-old child, X, born to parents Mr Barnsley and Ms Gaynor. The parents had consciously conceived X without the intention of forming an intact family unit. X had resided with his mother since birth. Both parents presented competing proposals for X's future care arrangements.

The court was required to determine how a meaningful relationship between X and his father could best be achieved, considering whether this involved an immediate or gradual increase in X's time with his father. The court also had to consider the best interests of the child, taking into account practical difficulties and X's history of experience.

Judge Harman found that the parents were cooperative and that the child's best interests would be served by a gradual increase in time spent with his father. The court applied the principles of the best interests of the child under the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). The court made orders for X to live with his mother and spend time with his father, with X's time with his father progressively increasing annually until it reached five nights per fortnight, in addition to half of the school holidays.