BELTRAN & KRAFT

In the matter of *Beltran & Kraft*, heard by Judge Egan, the dispute concerned parental responsibility and parenting orders for a child born in 2007. The father's failure to undertake hair follicle drug testing was a significant factor in the proceedings, leading to staged increases in his time with the child contingent upon producing clean drug tests.

The court was required to determine the appropriate orders for parental responsibility, the child's living arrangements, and the specific time the child would spend with the father. Key issues included the conditions under which the father could transition from supervised to unsupervised time with the child, the nature and frequency of drug testing required, and the circumstances under which the child would reside with the father. The court also had to consider provisions for communication between the parents, changeovers, and specific behavioural expectations while the child was in each parent's care.

Judge Egan ordered that the mother have sole parental responsibility for the child, with the child to live with the mother. The father's time with the child was structured in phases, commencing with supervised time and progressing to unsupervised time contingent upon the successful completion of staged hair follicle drug tests. These tests were to be negative for illicit drugs and any prescribed medication for which the father did not have a prescription. Further phases required the father to be residing in a home where the child had her own bed and bedroom. The orders also stipulated specific communication protocols, including the exclusive use of the Talking Parents App, and outlined behavioural expectations regarding respect for each parent and the non-consumption of illicit drugs or excessive alcohol while the child was in their care. The Independent Children's Lawyer was discharged.