Green & Burnett

The case of *Green & Burnett* involved applications concerning the parenting of three children, J, M, and G. The dispute centred on the father's time with the children, particularly in light of allegations of child abuse, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. The matter was heard by The Hon Justice Murphy.

The court was required to determine the best interests of the children in relation to their parental responsibility and the extent and nature of the time they would spend with their father. Key issues included whether the father should have any face-to-face time with the children, and if so, under what conditions and for what duration, with a particular focus on the implementation of a "sunset clause" for supervised contact. The court also considered the father's applications for compensation, an injunction against the Department of Human Services and Child Protection, and orders regarding the mother's alleged breach of previous court orders.

Justice Murphy discharged all previous parenting orders and dismissed the father's applications. The mother was granted sole parental responsibility, and the children were ordered to live with her. The court established a phased approach to the father's time with the children, commencing with supervised contact at a contact centre for an initial six-month period. The continuation and progression of this time were contingent on the father's engagement and the children's well-being, with specific thresholds for attendance and progress reports. The orders included detailed provisions for supervised contact, the potential for unsupervised time after 12 and 18 months, and strict notification requirements for both parents. Injunctions were also issued restraining both parents from denigrating the other in the children's hearing, discussing proceedings with the children, using abusive language, or physically disciplining them. The father was specifically restrained from facilitating any contact between the children and a Mr D.