Blaze & Anor & Grady

The matter of Blaze & Anor & Grady concerned an application before Purdon-Sully J in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia regarding the living arrangements and time spent with a child, X. The applicants sought orders concerning the child's residence and contact with the respondents, the child's mother and father.

The court was required to determine the primary residence of the child, the specific arrangements for the child to spend time with both the applicants and the respondents, and the terms of shared parental responsibility. Further issues included the enforcement of orders, the conduct of parties in relation to the child, and the appointment of an Independent Children's Lawyer and a Family Consultant to assist the court in making determinations regarding the child's welfare.

By consent and upon the applicants undertaking to relocate to Brisbane within ten days, the court ordered that the child live with the applicants in Brisbane. The court also made detailed orders regarding the child's time with the mother and father, including specific alternate weekend and mid-week arrangements, and provisions for special occasions such as Mother's Day and birthdays. The court further ordered equal shared parental responsibility, with provisions for communication and the exchange of the child's Medicare card at changeovers. The court also directed the appointment of an Independent Children's Lawyer and a Family Consultant to prepare a report addressing interventions for cooperative parenting and dispute resolution, and ordered the proceedings be transferred to the Family Court of Australia.