Brandon and Brandon (No. 2)

This matter concerned the Brandon family, specifically the parental responsibility and living arrangements for their two children, A Brandon and Y Brandon. The dispute involved the Father and the Mother, and the case was heard by Kent J in the Family Court of Australia.

The court was required to determine the primary issues of who should have parental responsibility for each child, where each child should live, and the terms of communication and contact between the parents and the children. Additionally, the court needed to address the need for therapeutic intervention for the children and the parents, and the conditions under which the Father could seek future contact with Y.

Kent J made orders for the Father to have sole parental responsibility for A, who would live with him, and for the Mother to have sole parental responsibility for Y, who would live with her. The Mother was permitted to withhold her address from the Father for Y's residence, provided she did not move Y more than 200km from a specified town without consent or further order, and maintained contact with the Independent Children’s Lawyer. The judgment also included detailed provisions for communication, information sharing regarding the children's health and education, and prohibitions against negative discussions about the other parent. Crucially, the Father was restrained from spending time with Y and from attempting to contact him, with significant conditions placed on any future applications for contact, including mandatory therapeutic counselling for both parents and the children. Recovery orders were also made to facilitate the transfer of Y to the Mother's care if necessary.