Grimes & Cale

In *Grimes & Cale*, Benjamin J of the Family Court of Australia considered orders concerning the living arrangements and time spent with a child born in April 1996, as well as the transfer of proceedings. The dispute centred on the parental responsibility for the child and the practical arrangements for the child's time with each parent.

The court was required to determine the nature of parental responsibility to be ordered, specifically whether equal shared parental responsibility was appropriate. Furthermore, the court had to decide with whom the child would reside and the specific arrangements for the child to spend time and communicate with the parent with whom the child would not primarily reside. A further issue before the court was whether the proceedings should be transferred to a different registry.

Benjamin J made orders for equal shared parental responsibility, with the child to reside with the mother. The father was granted specific periods of time with the child during school holidays, including a consecutive four-week period during the Christmas holidays, and was to have regular telephone and internet communication. The court also ordered the transfer of proceedings to the Townsville Registry, but suspended the operation of this order for 21 days, granting leave for either party to apply to vary this aspect of the order. The court certified that it was reasonable to engage counsel.