Dart and Graham

In the matter of *Dart and Graham*, Justice Fowler of the Family Court of Australia considered an application by the father for permission to take the parties' three children on an overseas holiday to Bali, Indonesia. The dispute concerned the terms and conditions under which such travel would be permitted, including supervision arrangements and passport procurement.

The court was required to determine whether to grant the father's request for overseas travel for the children, and if so, to establish specific orders regarding the children's supervision during the journey and their stay in Bali. Further issues included the process for obtaining the children's passports, communication arrangements between the mother and children during the holiday, and contingency plans in the event of changes to travel advisories. The court also had to consider the implications of the father's flight booking status and potential alternative return arrangements.

Justice Fowler granted the father permission to take the children to Bali from 27 September 2008 to 11 October 2008, subject to detailed supervision requirements for both the flights and the time spent in Indonesia. The mother was ordered to procure the children's passports without the father's signature, to be delivered to the father by a specified date, with the passports to be returned to the mother upon conclusion of the trip. The orders also included provisions for daily telephone communication between the mother and children, and for the father to facilitate calls initiated by the children. Contingency measures were put in place regarding potential upgrades to travel advisories, and the court noted the father's commitment to ensuring the children's return to Australia by 11 October 2008, even if alternative flight arrangements were necessary. No order was made as to costs.