Decker and Thames

In the Family Court of Australia, Justice Mead considered an application filed by the father on 11 March 2020 and a response filed by the mother on 8 April 2020. The dispute concerned parenting arrangements for a child, X.

The court was required to determine which aspects of the father's application should proceed and to make orders regarding the child's passport and the future conduct of the proceedings, including the listing of the matter for trial.

Justice Mead dismissed significant portions of the father's application, specifically paragraphs 1 to 8 and paragraph 12. The court ordered that the mother deliver the child X's passport to the Adelaide Registry of the Family Court, to be held there until further order. The father was granted liberty to file and serve a further amended initiating application by 15 May 2020. The remaining aspects of both the father's application and the mother's response were dismissed. The matter was listed for a 10-day trial commencing on 17 August 2020, with trial directions adjourned to 1 June 2020. Counsel were directed to provide a trial plan, including lists of affidavits, witness schedules with estimated cross-examination times, and a draft list of issues for trial, by 25 May 2020. Costs in relation to both applications were reserved.