Decker and Thames

The proceedings involved Mr Decker (the father) and Ms Thames (the mother) concerning parenting arrangements for their child, X. The court, presided over by Mead J, was required to determine various orders relating to the child's time with each parent, supervision arrangements, travel, and the issuance of a passport. The orders also addressed the parties' conduct, including restrictions on surveillance and the requirement to attend parenting programs.

The central legal issues before the court were the appropriate interim parenting orders pending trial, including the specifics of supervised time between the father and child, handover procedures, and the father's responsibilities regarding the child's medical needs. The court also considered the mother's application to travel with the child internationally and the father's obligations in facilitating the child's passport application. Furthermore, the court addressed broader issues such as the parties' conduct, including injunctions against surveillance, and the need for them to participate in post-separation parenting programs.

Mead J made a series of orders aimed at establishing clear, supervised contact between the father and child, detailing specific days and times, and outlining strict handover protocols to minimise direct interaction between the parents. The court also ordered the father to obtain instruction on administering an epi pen for the child's allergies and mandated attendance at a parenting program for both parties. Crucially, the court granted the mother liberty to travel with the child overseas for a limited period and ordered the father to provide necessary documentation for the child's passport, with provisions for the passport to be issued even without his consent if he failed to comply. Injunctions were also granted restraining both parties from conducting surveillance on each other.