Chard and Yong (No 2)

In the matter of Chard and Yong (No 2), Gill J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application concerning the issuance of an Australian travel document for a child, X, born in 2015. The dispute involved the parents' differing views on the child's ability to travel internationally.

The central legal issue before the Court was whether an Australian travel document should be issued for X, and if so, under what conditions. This required the Court to determine the appropriate course of action in circumstances where one parent sought the document and the other's consent was withheld, impacting the child's ability to obtain a passport.

Gill J applied the principles of the *Australian Passports Act 2005*, specifically section 11, which allows for the issuance of travel documents in certain circumstances. The Court's reasoning led to orders permitting X to have an Australian travel document. Furthermore, the Mother was granted liberty to apply for an Australian Passport for X without the Father's consent or signature. However, upon receipt of the passport, the Mother was directed to lodge it with the Canberra Registry of the Family Court, where it would remain pending further court order or the parties' written agreement for its release and use. The Independent Children’s Lawyer was to be discharged six weeks after the date of these orders.