JASON & JASON

In the matter of *Jason & Jason*, heard by Hannam J, the dispute concerned final parenting orders for two children. The father was the primary carer, and the mother had discontinued her participation in the proceedings. The court was required to determine the best interests of the children, considering the history of family violence and conflict, the nature of the children's relationships with each parent, their attitudes to parental responsibilities, and the practical capacities of each parent.

The court was not satisfied of a risk of sexual abuse to the children. It applied the principles that a meaningful relationship with both parents is generally beneficial to children, while also acknowledging the practical difficulties and the need to consider the parental capacities of each party. The court's reasoning led it to conclude that it was in the children's best interests to live with the father and to have liberal and flexible time with the mother.

Consequently, the court ordered that the father have sole parental responsibility for the children, discharging all prior parenting orders. The children were to live with the father, and the mother was to have liberal and flexible time to spend with and communicate with them as arranged between the parties. The court also made orders regarding the parties not denigrating each other in the children's presence, the exchange of contact details and health information, and the mother's access to school information. Crucially, the father was granted sole entitlement to obtain and renew the children's passports, and the mother was restrained by injunction from applying for passports for the children. All outstanding applications were dismissed.