Director-General, Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services and Louse (No. 2)

This matter concerned an application by the Director-General, Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, seeking orders for the return of a child, B, to New Zealand. The respondent was the child's father, Mr Louse. The proceedings were before Forrest J of the Family Court of Australia.

The central legal issue before the court was whether the child, B, should be returned to New Zealand, and what ancillary orders were necessary to facilitate this return. This involved considering the child's welfare and the court's jurisdiction to make orders concerning international child abduction or return.

Forrest J ordered that the child, B, be returned to New Zealand by 12 October 2014. To give effect to this, the court issued injunctions restraining the respondent father from removing the child from Australia or changing his residence. The court also directed that the child and father be placed on the Family Law Watch list at international departure points, with provisions for their removal upon confirmation of travel arrangements. The Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police and other law enforcement agencies were empowered to take necessary steps to enforce the orders. The court further ordered that the respondent father pay all expenses associated with the child's return and granted liberty to apply for further orders.