Collins and Ricardo

In *Collins and Ricardo*, heard by Loughnan J, the father sought orders against the mother alleging contravention of parenting orders. The dispute concerned the mother's alleged failure to comply with orders requiring her to advise the father of her address and to present the child, S, for contact at a specified centre on two occasions in October 2012.

The primary legal issue before the Court was whether the mother had contravened the parenting orders without reasonable excuse. This required the Court to determine if the mother's actions or omissions constituted a breach of the specific terms of the orders and, if so, whether any justification existed for such non-compliance.

Loughnan J found that the mother had indeed contravened the parenting orders without reasonable excuse in relation to her failure to advise the father of her address and her failure to present the child S for contact on the two specified dates. However, the Court dismissed the father's broader Contravention Application filed on 20 March 2013. The proceedings were adjourned to a date convenient to the parties and the Court to consider any consequential orders that might arise under Division 13A of Part VII of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth).