Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services and Crane

In the matter of *Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services and Crane*, Kent J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application concerning the return of a child, L, born in May 2010, to New Zealand. The parties involved were the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services and the Respondent Mother, Ms Crane. The core of the dispute revolved around the child's presence in Australia and the mother's actions in relation to her.

The court was required to determine whether the child, L, should be returned to New Zealand and, in conjunction with this, what orders were necessary to facilitate that return and prevent any further attempts to keep the child in Australia. This included considering injunctions against the Respondent Mother and the involvement of law enforcement agencies.

Kent J ordered that the child, L, be returned to New Zealand by 19 June 2012. To effect this, the Respondent Mother was restrained from removing the child from Australia or changing her residence within Queensland pending the return. The court also ordered that the child and mother be placed on an All Ports Watch Alert System, with provisions for their removal upon confirmation of travel arrangements. The Respondent Mother was directed to book and pay for all necessary expenses for the child's return, with the father given liberty to do so if she failed, and to reimburse him. All other applications were dismissed.