Bondelmonte and Bondelmonte

In Bondelmonte and Bondelmonte, Watts J of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia considered a dispute between the parents concerning their three children, R, S, and T. The primary issue before the court was the welfare of the children, particularly in light of their residence in the United States and the need for a comprehensive family report.

The court was required to determine the arrangements for the children's attendance at interviews with a family consultant in Australia to facilitate the preparation of a family report. This involved considering the children's return to the Commonwealth of Australia and the potential attendance of the husband in person for interviews. The court also had to address the specific matters to be considered by the family consultant in their report, as outlined in section 62G of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth).

Watts J ordered that the children R and S return to Australia to attend interviews with a family consultant. The court further directed that the matter be listed for consideration of whether the husband should attend in person for interviews to assist in the preparation of the family report. Both parents were ordered to ensure the attendance of all three children, R, S, and T, at interviews for the family report. The court also requested that the family consultant consider a range of specific welfare issues, including the risk of harm, the children's views, their relationships with parents, the parents' capacity to provide care, and the impact of family violence. Pending further orders, certain previous orders were suspended, and conditional upon the husband's compliance with the order for the children's return, R and S were to live with their father in New York, with the wife restrained from placing their names on an airport watch list.