Carter and Greenhill

In *Carter and Greenhill*, heard by Tree J, the court was required to determine parenting orders concerning three children. The dispute involved the allocation of parental responsibility, living arrangements, and time spent with each parent, as well as provisions for communication, schooling, and special occasions. The orders also addressed undertakings regarding drug testing for the father and an undertaking from the paternal grandmother.

The court's reasoning focused on establishing a framework for the children's care and well-being, balancing the parents' respective roles and responsibilities. Key legal principles applied included the paramountcy of the children's best interests, the importance of maintaining a relationship with both parents where appropriate, and the need for clear communication and information sharing between parents. The court also considered the father's undertakings for drug testing and the paternal grandmother's role in ensuring the children's safety.

The court ordered that the mother have sole parental responsibility for the children, with specific provisions for the father to be notified of major decisions and to have access to information regarding the children's schooling, religion, and health. The children were to live with the mother from a specified date, with detailed arrangements for the father's time with them, including during school holidays and weekends. The orders also included provisions for liberal telephone communication, a communication book, and restraints on denigrating the other parent. The father was subject to a 12-month period of hair follicle testing and urinalysis, and the paternal grandmother was required to provide an undertaking to notify the police and mother if she observed the father under the influence of illicit substances. All prior parenting orders were discharged.