CHOI & CHOI

In the matter of *CHOI & CHOI*, heard by Judge McGuire, the dispute concerned parenting arrangements for a six-year-old daughter. The mother sought to relocate with the child to Hong Kong, where both parents had previously resided, while the father sought to maintain arrangements within Australia.

The central legal issues before the court were the determination of the child's best interests and the assessment of the reasonable practicability of proposed parenting arrangements, particularly in light of the mother's proposed relocation. The court was required to balance the competing interests of the parents and the child's welfare in deciding whether to permit the relocation or to establish alternative arrangements.

Judge McGuire reasoned that an order for equal time for the child between the parents in Australia was in the child's best interests and was reasonably practicable. The court ultimately made orders for equal shared parental responsibility, a week-about living regime for the child between the parents, and specified changeover times. Crucially, the court restrained both parents from removing the child from the Commonwealth of Australia without the other parent's written consent and granted liberty to apply for an Airport Watch List Order.