ECONOMOU & ECONOMOU

In the matter of *Economou & Economou*, Forrest J of the Family Court of Australia made orders concerning the parental responsibility and living arrangements for three children. The dispute centred on the arrangements for the children, with the mother seeking sole parental responsibility and the children to live with her, and the father's involvement.

The court was required to determine the primary caregiver for the children, where the children would live, the extent of the father's contact with the children, and to make orders regarding communication, notification of hospitalisation, geographical restrictions on the father and children, and passport arrangements. The court also considered the father's liberty to share certain documents with medical professionals for assessment and treatment purposes.

Forrest J ordered that the mother have sole parental responsibility for the children and that they live with her, with the children to spend no time with the father. The court imposed significant restrictions on the father, including an injunction restraining him from attending the children's schools or coming within 500 metres of their residence. Furthermore, the father was restrained from removing the children from Australia, and the children themselves were restrained from leaving the Commonwealth. The Australian Federal Police were directed to place the children's names on the Family Law Watchlist. Communication between the father and children was limited to birthday and Christmas cards, letters, and photos sent via Australia Post, with the mother having discretion to withhold communications she believed would cause distress. The court also authorised the renewal of the children's passports by the mother without the father's consent. The Independent Children's Lawyer was discharged.