HAGOS & CADMAN

In the matter of *Hagos & Cadman*, Altobelli J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application for interim parenting orders. The dispute concerned the future living arrangements for the children, who had expressed a strong preference to live with their father. The mother's partner and the mother's own minimisation of risk issues were central to the father's concerns.

The court was required to determine whether it was in the best interests of the children to make interim orders for them to live with the father, given their expressed views and the father's allegations regarding the mother's partner and her approach to risk. The primary legal issue was how to balance the children's stated wishes with the need to ensure their safety and well-being in the interim period.

Altobelli J applied the principles of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), particularly focusing on the paramountcy of the child's best interests. The judge considered the weight to be given to the children's expressed views, noting that while significant, these views are not determinative and must be assessed in light of the children's age and maturity. The court also had to assess the credibility of the allegations concerning the mother's partner and the mother's capacity to manage risk. The judge's reasoning involved a careful balancing of these competing considerations to arrive at an interim solution that prioritised the children's welfare.

The court made interim orders for the children to live with the father.