Hunter and Watt

Stevenson J of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia made orders concerning parenting arrangements for a child born in June 2004, following a dispute between the child's parents.

The court was required to determine the most appropriate parenting orders for the child, considering the welfare and best interests of the child. This involved assessing the current parenting orders, the responsibilities of each parent, and the specific time the child would spend with each parent.

The court ordered the discharge of all existing parenting orders and granted the mother sole parental responsibility for the child, with the child to live with her. The father was granted specific periods of time with the child, which were phased in over time and contingent on certain conditions. These conditions included the father undergoing urinalysis testing, completing a post-separation parenting program, and an anger management course. The orders also stipulated communication protocols between the parents, including the use of a communication book and notification of residential addresses and contact numbers. Furthermore, the father was required to provide details of his accommodation and furnishings prior to any overnight time with the child. The court also included a Fact Sheet detailing the obligations created by the orders and the consequences of contravention.