DIRECTOR-GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITIES, CHILD SAFETY AND DISABILITY SERVICES & IBBOTT

In the Family Court of Australia, Kent J made orders concerning the child B, born in 2012, in proceedings between the Director-General, Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, as applicant, and Mr Ibbott, the respondent father. The dispute involved the potential removal of the child from Australia and a change to her usual place of residence.

The court was required to determine whether to grant injunctive relief to restrain the respondent father from removing the child from the Commonwealth of Australia and from changing the child's usual day-to-day residence. The court also considered the necessary steps to enforce such orders, including placing the names of the father and child on the Family Law Watchlist.

Kent J applied principles relating to the protection of children and the court's power to make orders to prevent their wrongful removal from the jurisdiction. The court issued injunctions restraining the respondent father from removing the child from Australia and from altering her current residence with the mother. The orders also empowered law enforcement agencies to give effect to these injunctions and mandated the placement of the father and child's names on the Family Law Watchlist for two years. Further procedural orders were made regarding the filing of documents and the listing of the proceedings for a hearing.