Grant and Aiden

In the matter of Grant and Aiden, Dessau J considered a contravention application by the father against the mother concerning parenting orders, as well as an initiating application by the mother. The dispute centred on allegations of the mother's contravention of existing parenting orders and the mother's subsequent application.

The court was required to determine whether the mother had contravened specific parenting orders as alleged by the father, and to consider the applications made by both parties. The court also had to decide on appropriate orders regarding the child's time with each parent, contact arrangements, and the mother's continued attendance at a sexual assault clinic.

Dessau J found that charges 1 and 7 of the father's contravention application were not proven, but charges 2 to 6 were proven. The court ordered the mother to enter a section 70NEC bond for two years, requiring her to be of good behaviour and comply with parenting orders. The mother's initiating application was withdrawn by leave, as was the father's contravention application filed on 24 January 2013. The court made significant variations to the existing parenting orders, including amendments to the child's time with the father, the location of changeovers, and the mother's ability to telephone the child during school holidays. Crucially, the mother was restrained from continuing the child's attendance at the sexual assault clinic. The mother was ordered to pay the father's costs, fixed at $5500, with this payment permanently stayed unless a breach of the bond was proven.