Flagg and Hall

This matter concerned orders made by Judge Myers regarding the living arrangements and time spent with the children, X and Y, and their parents. The dispute centred on the practical arrangements for the children's care, including parental responsibility, time spent with each parent, communication, and the exchange of information regarding the children's welfare and activities.

The court was required to determine the specific terms of the parenting orders, including the allocation of parental responsibility for long-term issues and day-to-day care, the schedule for the children spending time with each parent, and provisions for communication and information sharing. Additionally, the court addressed the need for therapeutic interventions and behavioural management for the parents, as well as the role of the Independent Children's Lawyer in explaining the orders to the children.

Judge Myers made detailed orders concerning the children's residence with the mother and the father's time with them, encompassing alternate weekends, mid-week contact, school holidays, and specific arrangements for Christmas and birthdays. The orders also stipulated how handovers were to occur and established protocols for communication, including telephone and electronic contact. Crucially, the court imposed restraints on both parents discussing or criticising the other parent in the children's presence and made the orders conditional upon the parents undertaking family therapy and the father completing an anger management course. The Independent Children's Lawyer was directed to explain the orders to the children and their costs were reserved.