Johnson and Charles (No. 3)

This matter concerned an application before Gill J concerning the parenting arrangements for a child, B. The dispute involved the mother and the father of the child.

The court was required to determine the appropriate orders for parental responsibility, the child's residence, and the time the child would spend with each parent. Further issues included whether the child should be permitted to travel internationally and the conditions under which the father could contact the child.

Gill J ordered that all previous orders concerning the child be discharged. The mother was granted sole parental responsibility, and the child was to live with her. The court then set out a phased approach for the child spending time with the father, commencing with shorter periods and progressing to alternate weekends during school term time. The child was permitted to travel internationally, and the mother was authorised to apply for a passport for the child without the father's consent. The father was prohibited from contacting the child outside of his allocated time unless he obtained prior written permission from the mother. The Registry Manager was directed to provide a copy of the orders to the Department of Foreign Affairs.