Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women and Lithgow

In the matter of *Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women and Lithgow*, Hogan J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application concerning the welfare of two children, B and C. The Department sought orders to prevent the removal of the children from Australia, with the Respondent Father being a party to the proceedings.

The central legal issue before the Court was whether to grant an injunction restraining the Respondent Father, and any other person, from removing the children from the Commonwealth of Australia. The Court was also required to consider ancillary orders to give effect to such an injunction, including the placement of the children's names on the Family Law Watch List.

Hogan J reasoned that it was necessary to make orders to protect the children from being removed from Australia. The Court applied principles relating to the protection of children and the court's power to issue injunctions to prevent potential harm or interference with the court's jurisdiction. The Court ordered that the Respondent Father be restrained from removing, or attempting to remove, the children from Australia until further order. The Court further empowered law enforcement agencies to take necessary steps to enforce this order and directed the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police to place the children's names on the Family Law Watch List for a period of two years. The application was adjourned for further hearing.