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

In the matter of *Director-General, Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services and Seigel (No 2)*, Hogan J of the Family Court of Australia made final orders concerning the return of two children, B and C, to New Zealand. The Director-General, Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, was the applicant, and Mr Seigel was the respondent father. The dispute centred on the welfare and location of the children, who were to be returned to New Zealand.

The court was required to determine the arrangements for the children's return to New Zealand, including specific timelines and the necessary measures to ensure their safe passage. This involved considering the role of the respondent father, the powers of various authorities, and the legal framework governing the return of children in such circumstances, particularly in light of obligations under international conventions.

Hogan J ordered the discharge of all previous orders and directed that the children, B and C, be returned to New Zealand by 30 April 2017. To facilitate this, the respondent father was restrained from removing the children from Australia or their current Queensland residence, and their names were to be retained on the Family Law Watchlist. The court empowered the Marshal of the Family Court, the Australian Federal Police, and state and territory police forces to take all necessary steps to give effect to these orders. Passports were to be released to facilitate the children's return, and the applicant was granted liberty to apply for further orders as needed to ensure compliance with the court's directions and the applicant's obligations under the Family Law (Child Abduction Convention) Regulations 1986 (Cth). The applicant was also ordered to provide copies of the judgment and related documents to New Zealand authorities.