Hanlor and Hanlor

This matter concerned an application by the mother and father regarding the parenting arrangements for their child, X. The proceedings were before Baumann J in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia. The court was required to determine the orders concerning the child's living arrangements, time spent with each parent, communication, school holidays, special occasions, interstate travel, handovers, and the parents' conduct towards each other and in the child's presence.

The court was tasked with establishing a comprehensive parenting plan that addressed the practicalities of shared responsibility and time with the child. Key issues included defining the specific schedule for the child's time with each parent during school terms and holidays, outlining arrangements for special occasions like Christmas and Easter, and setting parameters for communication and travel. The court also needed to consider orders relating to the child's engagement with a psychologist and to address concerns regarding the father's consumption of alcohol and illicit substances while the child was in his care.

In its determination, the court ordered equal shared responsibility for the child, with the child to live with the mother. Detailed provisions were made for the child's time with the father during school terms, including specific alternating arrangements for weekends and Thursdays, which varied in complexity across different school terms. School holiday arrangements were also meticulously detailed, with a progressive increase in the duration of the child's time with the father over successive holidays, culminating in equally shared holidays from 2020 onwards. Special provisions were made for Christmas, Easter, Father's Day, Mother's Day, and the child's birthday, with alternating arrangements to ensure time with both parents. The court also imposed injunctions restraining the father from consuming alcohol or illicit substances to excess while the child was in his care, and both parents from abusing, harassing, or denigrating each other in the child's presence or discussing adult conflict with the child. Further orders mandated civil communication between the parents, facilitated the child's engagement with a psychologist, and permitted interstate travel with appropriate notice. All other applications were dismissed.