Hill and Anor and Johnston

This matter concerned interim parenting orders made by Judge Hartnett in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia. The dispute involved the time the child, X, born in 2010, would spend with the father, and arrangements for communication and schooling. The orders were made by consent between the parties.

The court was required to determine the specific interim arrangements for the child's time with the father, including the commencement and conclusion of these periods. Further issues included the child's enrolment at a new primary school, the father's status as an emergency contact, and the parents' entitlement to receive school-related information and attend school events. The court also considered arrangements for the maternal grandmother's time with the child, including specific restrictions on discussions in the child's presence. Finally, the court addressed the preparation of an updated family report, outlining the matters it should cover and the process for its dissemination.

In reaching its decision, the court applied the principles of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), particularly sections concerning the best interests of the child, including the child's views, the parents' responsibilities, and the need for the child to have a meaningful relationship with both parents. The court's reasoning, as reflected in the consent orders, involved implementing specific time-sharing arrangements, facilitating communication and information sharing between parents regarding the child's education and well-being, and establishing a framework for obtaining expert reports to assist in determining the child's best interests. The court also made orders restraining the maternal grandmother from discussing certain topics with the child, and directed the preparation of a family report and a report from the Department of Health & Human Services.

By consent, the court ordered specific interim time arrangements for the child with the father, including detailed schedules for school holidays and weekends. The child was to commence Term two of the 2016 school year at a specified primary school, with the father listed as an emergency contact. Both parents were to receive school reports and attend school events. The maternal grandmother was granted time with the child, with restrictions on discussing her unmarried status and religious beliefs. The court also ordered the preparation of an updated family report and a report from the Department of Health & Human Services, with further directions regarding the exchange of affidavits and the adjournment of extant applications.