Best and Best

In *Best and Best*, Ryan J of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia made orders concerning the living arrangements and time spent with four children, C, L, V, and O, between their parents, Ms Best (the mother) and Mr Best (the father). The dispute centred on the children's welfare and the appropriate parenting arrangements following prior orders.

The court was required to determine the primary residence of the children, the extent of parental responsibility each parent would hold, and the specific arrangements for the father to spend time with the children. Further issues included conditions to be placed on the father's time with the children, communication protocols between the parents, and provisions for important events and school-related matters. The court also considered the father's ongoing treatment and the implications of any contravention of the orders.

Ryan J ordered that all prior parenting orders be discharged. The children were to live with the mother, who was granted sole parental responsibility for their long-term care, welfare, and development. The father's time with the children was to commence with supervised contact and gradually increase to unsupervised time, with specific arrangements for weekends, holidays, birthdays, and other significant days. These arrangements were subject to strict conditions, including the father's continued psychiatric treatment, abstention from alcohol, and compliance with his treating psychiatrist's recommendations. The court also established communication channels through nominated third parties for significant matters concerning the children and imposed restraints on the father regarding approaching or communicating with the mother and children outside of the ordered time, and discussing the proceedings with the children.

By consent, both parents were permitted to liaise directly with the children's schools and sporting bodies and were to receive copies of school reports and invitations to parent-invited activities. The court also made orders regarding the specific days the children would spend with the mother on significant occasions like Mother's Day and Christmas. The father's time was suspended during school holidays from a specified date, and changeovers were to occur at a designated contact centre or the children's school, with specific instructions for the father during changeovers. The court noted that particulars of obligations and consequences for contravention were set out in an annexure.