Geary & Maddigan & Anor

The proceedings before Austin J involved the Director General of the Community Services Directorate of the ACT seeking leave to intervene as a party. The dispute concerned interim parenting orders for three children, B, C, and D, and the discharge of previous orders made by Justice Ainslie-Wallace.

The court was required to determine whether to grant leave for the Director General to intervene and, pending further order, what interim parenting arrangements should apply to the children. This included considering the allocation of parental responsibility, the children's living arrangements, and the nature and frequency of the children's time with their father. The court also had to address the dismissal of various interim relief applications and the filing of amended applications for final relief.

Austin J, by consent, granted leave for the Director General to intervene. The court then discharged previous interim orders and, subject to specific provisions of the *Family Law Act*, made new interim orders. These orders placed parental responsibility for the children with the Intervener (the Director General), stipulated that the children would live with the mother, and established supervised time for the children with the father. The court also dismissed outstanding applications for interim relief and directed the father and mother to file amended applications for final relief. The proceedings were adjourned for further directions, with no order as to costs.