Davidson and Cox and Anor

In the matter of *Davidson and Cox and Anor*, Judge Baker of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia made orders by consent concerning the child [X]. The dispute involved arrangements for the child's residence, parental responsibility, and communication and contact with both parents. The orders also addressed specific behavioural expectations and restrictions for each parent.

The court was required to determine the terms of final parenting orders that reflected the agreement of the parties. These terms encompassed the child's living arrangements, the allocation of parental responsibility, the nature and supervision of time spent with each parent, and communication protocols. Additionally, the court needed to address specific prohibitions, including those relating to denigration, drug use, physical discipline, and contact with the child's school and medical providers. The court also noted the inconsistency of the consent orders with prior interim family violence orders.

The court's reasoning was based on the consent of the parties to the proposed orders. The orders themselves reflect a considered approach to the child's welfare, with provisions for supervised contact and communication designed to manage risks and facilitate a relationship between the child and both parents. The court applied principles of family law, particularly those relating to the best interests of the child, by approving arrangements that the parents had agreed upon, subject to the court's oversight and the specific conditions outlined. The court also incorporated provisions for the release of reports and the identification of the father on the child's birth certificate.

By consent, the court ordered that the child [X] live with the father and that the father have sole parental responsibility. The mother was granted supervised time with the child and supervised telephone communication. The orders also included specific prohibitions against denigration, illicit drug use, and physical discipline, and imposed restrictions on the mother's contact with the child's school and medical providers, while allowing her to receive school reports. The court noted that these orders were inconsistent with previous interim family violence orders and attached particulars regarding contravention consequences.