Harridge and Anor and Harridge and Anor

This matter concerned parenting orders made by Murphy J in the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia. The dispute involved the paternal grandparents and the father seeking to spend time with two children, A and N, and the mother's role in facilitating or restraining contact. The court was required to determine the appropriate arrangements for the children's time with their paternal grandparents and father, considering the existing orders and the welfare of the children.

The court's reasoning focused on establishing supervised contact arrangements for both the paternal grandparents and the father. Paragraphs 1-4 of previous orders were discharged. The paternal grandparents were ordered to spend time with the children for two hours per fortnight at a contact centre, with the condition that the father not be present during or around these visits. The mother was restrained from bringing the children into contact with the paternal grandparents or the father without court leave. The father's time with the children was to be supervised by a family consultant or a person approved by the Independent Children's Lawyer, with additional monthly telephone contact ordered. The mother was also directed to facilitate limited weekly telephone contact between the children and the paternal grandmother.

Further orders were made pursuant to the Family Law Act 1975, including provisions for a family consultant to assist parties with compliance and to prepare a supplementary report for the final hearing. An updated report from the Department of Communities (Child Safety Services) was to be provided to the parties. The response filed by the Paternal Grandmother was dismissed. Leave was granted to the Independent Children’s Lawyer to publish certain documents to the Director General of the Department of Communities (Child Safety Services). Finally, particulars of the obligations, consequences of contravention, and available assistance were to be set out in an attached Fact Sheet, incorporated into the orders.