HARRIS & COATES

In the matter of *Harris & Coates*, Justice Dawe considered interim orders concerning the time a child spends with their father. The dispute centred on arrangements for the children's time with the father pending the final determination of the proceedings.

The primary legal issue before the Court was to determine what interim orders were in the best interests of the children regarding their time with the father. This involved considering the need for supervised contact and the practical steps required to facilitate such contact.

Justice Dawe ordered that the father must immediately register with Contact Centre C for supervised time with the children. The father was directed to spend time with the children at the centre, as facilitated by the centre, for at least two hours each fortnight. Further consideration of the father's time with the children was adjourned to a later date, with the Court also noting the need to consider reports from the Independent Children’s Lawyer and a potential subpoena for therapist records. The Court also advised the parties to consider their witnesses for the trial.