Hunter and Hillman

This matter came before Johns J in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia concerning parenting arrangements for the parties' child, B. The proceedings involved contravention applications filed by the husband, which he subsequently sought leave to withdraw. The dispute centred on the living arrangements, time spent, and communication between the child and each parent, as well as medical decision-making for the child.

The court was required to determine the appropriate interim parenting orders for the child B, including where the child would live, the schedule for time spent and communication with the mother, and restrictions on the mother's ability to attend medical appointments with the child. Additionally, the court needed to address the parties' obligations regarding denigration of each other and discussion of court proceedings in the presence of the children, and the validity of the current orders in relation to any existing family violence orders. The court also considered the continuation of previous parenting orders for other children, D and E, and the process for providing psychiatric assessments to treating practitioners.

Johns J made orders by consent in relation to most matters. The court ordered that the child B live with the father until further order, with specific arrangements for time spent and communication with the mother, including supervised Skype calls. The mother was restrained from attending medical practitioners with the child except in emergencies, and was required to notify the father in such instances. Both parents were restrained from denigrating each other or discussing court proceedings in the presence of the children. The court also ordered that any family violence order between the parties would be invalid to the extent it was inconsistent with the current orders, pursuant to s 68Q of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). Previous parenting orders for children D and E were to remain in force. The court noted the parties' intention to seek priority listing for the final hearing due to the matter's history and current psychiatric assessments.