HILLMAN & HILLMAN

In the Family Court of Australia, Baumann J made orders concerning the parenting of two children, B and C, and financial matters between the parents, identified as the father and the mother. The dispute involved the future living arrangements and parental responsibilities for the children, as well as the management of property.

The court was required to determine the best interests of the children, B and C, in light of the circumstances presented. This included deciding where each child would live, who would hold parental responsibility for long-term decisions, and the extent of time, if any, each child would spend with the non-resident parent. Additionally, the court considered orders relating to international travel, communication between parents, and the conduct of parents in relation to the children and court proceedings. The court also addressed the discharge of previous orders, including those concerning the Independent Children's Lawyer and travel restrictions, and set a date for directions in the property proceedings.

Baumann J discharged all previous parenting orders and made new arrangements based on the children's best interests. The court ordered that child B live with the father and that the father have sole parental responsibility for major long-term issues concerning B. Conversely, child C was ordered to live with the mother, who was granted sole parental responsibility for major long-term issues concerning C. The orders stipulated that C would spend no time with the father unless agreed or expressed by C, and B would spend no time with the mother unless agreed or expressed by B. Further orders were made to prevent the parents from discussing the proceedings in the presence of the children, denigrating the other parent, or leaving court documents accessible to the children. The court also issued an injunction restraining the father from approaching or contacting child C at her school without the mother's written consent.

The court also discharged orders restraining the children from leaving Australia and made specific provisions for international travel by child C, requiring the mother to provide notice and a return ticket to the father. The appointment of the Independent Children’s Lawyer was discharged. Finally, the property proceedings were listed for directions on 3 August 2018 in the Family Court of Australia at Brisbane.