Gayle-Willis and Willis

In the matter of *Gayle-Willis and Willis*, heard by Mushin J, the court was required to make orders concerning the parenting of the child of the marriage, M. The proceedings involved a dispute between the parents regarding the child's living arrangements, time spent with each parent, and decision-making responsibility. The husband did not appear at the hearing.

The primary legal issues before the court were the determination of the child's residence, the allocation of parental responsibility, and the nature and extent of the child's time with and communication with each parent. Additionally, the court had to consider restrictions on the husband's contact with his partner, Ms F, and the execution of previous orders.

Mushin J ordered that all previous parenting orders be discharged. The wife was granted sole parental responsibility for all decisions concerning the child, and the child was ordered to live with the wife. The child was to spend time and communicate with the husband on alternate Saturdays from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, and by telephone on Sunday and Wednesday evenings, with the wife facilitating and the husband initiating these calls. The husband was restrained from bringing the child into contact with his partner, Ms F, unless the wife agreed and the contact was supervised by a professionally trained person. Pursuant to section 106A of the *Family Law Act 1975*, a Registrar was appointed to execute documents in the husband's name to give effect to previous orders made on 7 December 2009. The husband was ordered to pay the wife's costs of $1500 in relation to the execution of those orders. Liberty was reserved to the husband to apply to vary or set aside these orders within 21 days of service, provided he filed an affidavit explaining his non-appearance.