GWR v VAR

The Full Court of the Family Court of Australia considered an appeal by the father (VAR) against orders made by a judicial registrar concerning the parenting of the parties' child. The mother (GWR) sought final parenting orders, and the judicial registrar made orders that were largely in her favour, including that the child live with the mother and spend significant time with the father. The father appealed these orders, arguing that the judicial registrar erred in her findings of fact and in her application of the law.

The primary legal issues before the Full Court were whether the judicial registrar had made findings of fact that were against the weight of the evidence, and whether she had failed to properly consider the paramountcy principle, specifically the child's best interests, in making her final orders. The father contended that the judicial registrar had placed undue weight on certain evidence and had not adequately assessed the risks associated with the mother's proposed parenting arrangements.

The Full Court analysed the evidence presented to the judicial registrar and the reasons for her decision. It found that the judicial registrar had carefully considered all the evidence, including expert reports and oral testimony, and had made findings of fact that were open to her on the evidence. The Court affirmed that the judicial registrar had correctly applied the paramountcy principle, giving due consideration to the child's best interests as mandated by the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). The Court found no error in the judicial registrar's assessment of the risks or her ultimate conclusions regarding the parenting arrangements.

The appeal was dismissed, and the final parenting orders made by the judicial registrar were affirmed.