Cassells and Leach

In the matter of Cassells and Leach, heard by Judge Mead, the dispute concerned parenting orders for a child, X, born in 2006. The court was tasked with determining the future arrangements for X's care and time with each parent.

The central legal issues before the court were the allocation of parental responsibility, the specific arrangements for X's time with each parent, and the geographical restrictions on the mother's residence. The court also had to consider orders relating to the child's education, travel, and the appointment of an Independent Children's Lawyer.

Judge Mead ordered the discharge of all previous parenting orders and granted the mother sole parental responsibility for X. The mother was also enjoined from changing X's permanent residential address to a location more than twenty kilometres from the Adelaide General Post Office. The court then detailed a complex schedule for X's time with the father, commencing with limited weekend contact and progressively increasing to alternate weekends and extended holiday periods. Further orders mandated both parents to enrol in specific parenting courses and the mother to enrol X in the 'Banana Splitz Program'. Provisions were also made regarding interstate and overseas travel with X, including notice requirements and restrictions on the father's overseas travel until 2021. The order for an Independent Children's Lawyer was discharged, and all extant applications were dismissed.