Hopkins and Radcliffe and Anor

In the matter of *Hopkins and Radcliffe*, heard before Judge Neville, the dispute concerned parenting orders for a child, X, born in 2005. The orders sought to establish arrangements for the child's residence, time spent with each parent, and communication with extended family.

The court was required to determine the most appropriate parenting arrangements for the child, considering the safety and well-being of X. Key issues included the allocation of parental responsibility, the child's living arrangements, the nature and supervision of contact between the child and the Father, restrictions on parental conduct during contact, and the child's access to communication with the Father and paternal family. The court also considered the long-term prospects for unsupervised contact.

Judge Neville ordered that the Mother have sole parental responsibility and that the child live with her. The Father was to spend time with the child for 2-3 hours on one weekend per month at a supervised contact centre, with the Father bearing the costs. Crucially, the Father was prohibited from consuming alcohol or being under the influence of alcohol during these contact periods. Both parents were restrained from speaking negatively about the other to the child. The child was to have supervised access to the Father via phone and internet, and visits with paternal family members were permitted only in the Father's absence and as agreed with the Mother. A review of unsupervised contact was to be considered in three years, contingent on an application by the Father and a recommendation from the head of Family Consultants. The matter was then finalised.