Frank & Matthews

In the matter of *Frank & Matthews*, heard before Bennett J, the proceedings concerned applications relating to parenting orders for a child. The father sought orders for supervised contact with the child at a contact centre, while the mother's position and the child's welfare were central to the dispute.

The court was required to determine several key issues, including whether to grant the father leave to make an oral application for supervised contact at the B Contact Centre in Geelong, and the terms and conditions of any such interim contact. Additionally, the court needed to address the production of evidence, specifically VATE tapes involving the child and a copy recording referred to by the mother, for the independent children's lawyer and the father's practitioners. The court also had to consider the preparation of a family report by an expert, outlining the scope of the assessment and the equal sharing of costs.

Bennett J granted the father leave to make an oral application for supervised contact, directing that the Magellan Registrar issue a subpoena for VATE tapes and that the further hearing of all applications be adjourned for the determination of interim parenting orders. The court ordered the mother to produce a copy recording to the independent children's lawyer, who was then to provide a copy to the father's practitioners. The parties were directed to facilitate the preparation of a family report, with costs to be borne equally, and the report was to include specific evaluations of the child's interaction with each parent, their capacities, and the impact of spending time with each parent. The court also made directions regarding the filing of affidavit evidence by both parties in anticipation of the hearing on 12 October 2007, and the mother and father were directed to take steps to have the family accepted into the B Contact Centre for supervised contact.