Bass and Bass

In the matter of *Bass and Bass*, Justice Fowler of the Family Court of Australia made orders concerning the parental responsibility, residence, and contact arrangements for a child born in August 1997. The proceedings involved the mother and father of the child, with the court ultimately determining the future arrangements for the child's upbringing and the parties' interactions.

The court was required to determine a range of issues, including who should have sole parental responsibility for the child, where the child should live, and the extent of contact, if any, the child should have with the father. Further issues included the father's proximity to the mother and the child's school, the father's involvement in the child's education and medical care, and the management of the child's passports and travel documents. The court also addressed the father's role in a trust fund established for the child and the financial contributions each parent was to make towards the costs of the Independent Children's Lawyer and expert reports.

Justice Fowler's reasoning led to orders granting the mother sole parental responsibility and the child's residence with her. The court imposed significant restrictions on the father's contact with the child, ordering no direct or indirect contact except with the mother's consent, and restraining the father from attending within a kilometre of the mother's residence or the child's school. The father was also restrained from approaching the child's school or any future school chosen by the mother. The orders further stipulated that the mother keep the father informed of major events in the child's life and that the child attend counselling. The court also made detailed orders regarding the management of the child's passports, prohibiting the father from obtaining new ones and requiring the surrender of existing ones to the mother. Additionally, both parents were restrained from removing the child's permanent residential address from the Sydney Metropolitan Area and from discussing the proceedings with the child. The father was ordered to be removed as Trustee and Co-Signatory on the child's trust fund, with the mother declared the sole trustee and signatory. Finally, the father and mother were ordered to make specific payments to Legal Aid NSW and to Dr S, respectively, for costs associated with the proceedings.