Director General, Department of Child Safety and Christodoulos (aka Petrou)

Carmody J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application by the Director General, Department of Child Safety, concerning a child born in June 2001. The dispute involved the return of the child to Greece, with the Respondent mother, Christodoulos (aka Petrou), being a party to the proceedings.

The court was required to determine whether the child should be returned to Greece and to make consequential orders to facilitate this return. This involved considering the welfare of the child and the legal framework governing international child abduction and return.

Carmody J ordered the child's return to Greece on or before 25 February 2008. To give effect to this, the court issued injunctions restraining the Respondent mother from removing the child from the Commonwealth of Australia or changing the child's residence. The court also ordered that the names of the mother and child be retained on the PACE Alert System at international departure points, with provisions for their removal upon confirmation of travel arrangements to Greece. The Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, Federal Agents, and State/Territory police officers were empowered to take necessary steps to enforce these orders. The court also discharged previous orders made by the Family Court of Australia on 30 October 2007, dismissed outstanding applications, and removed all applications from the list of cases awaiting finalisation. Liberty to apply was granted to the Applicant for any further necessary orders.