Edwards and Granger & Anor

In the matter of *Edwards and Granger & Anor*, Benjamin J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application concerning the parenting of two children, L and S. The proceedings involved the father, Mr Edwards, the mother, Ms Granger, and the paternal grandmother, Mrs Edwards, who intervened in the proceedings. The core of the dispute centred on the father's conviction for serious crimes of violence against the mother, which raised significant concerns about the children's safety and well-being.

The court was required to determine the appropriate parenting orders for the children, specifically addressing the level of risk posed by the father to the children and the mother, and whether any time or communication with the father was in the children's best interests. Furthermore, the court had to consider the application by the paternal grandmother for time and communication with the children, in light of the father's conduct and the overall safety considerations.

Benjamin J found that the children were at an unacceptable risk of physical and psychological harm from the father, and that the mother's psychological health was also at risk if the children were to spend time or communicate with him. Applying the principles of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), the court concluded that it was in the children's best interests to discharge all previous parenting orders. The mother was granted sole and exclusive parental responsibility, and the children were ordered to live with her. The father was restrained from any time or communication with the children and was also subject to significant restrictions regarding approaching or communicating with the mother. The court further ordered that the children spend no time with the paternal grandmother and have no communication with her without the mother's prior written approval or a further court order.