Corbett and Corbett-Smythe & Anor

In the matter of Corbett and Corbett-Smythe, Justice Mushin of the Family Court of Australia considered applications concerning the welfare of two young children. The dispute involved the parents and the maternal grandparents, with the court making interim orders regarding the children's living arrangements, medical and psychological decision-making, and parental contact.

The court was required to determine the interim arrangements for the children, specifically who should have sole responsibility for medical and psychological decisions, where the children should live, and the terms of contact between the children and their mother and father. The court also had to consider the practicalities of facilitating contact, including supervision and travel costs.

Justice Mushin ordered that the maternal grandparents have sole responsibility for the children's medical and psychological care and that the children live with them, with liberty to return the children to Western Australia. The mother's time with the children was to be agreed between her and the maternal grandparents. The father's contact was to occur each fourth week, with specific weekend arrangements for the son and coinciding shorter periods for the daughter. Crucially, all of the father's contact was to be supervised by an authorised representative of the Perth Contact Centre or, failing that, by the maternal grandparents. The maternal grandparents were also ordered to meet the cost of the father's pre-paid air travel to Perth until trial to facilitate this contact. The hearing was adjourned, and further directions were given regarding the filing of documents.