KHAN & ABAD

The case of *Khan & Abad* involved parenting orders concerning a child, [X]. The applicant and the respondent father sought to establish new arrangements for their child's care and contact. The matter was heard by Judge Mercuri.

The court was required to determine the appropriate parenting orders, including the allocation of parental responsibility, the child's living arrangements, and the schedule for the child to spend time with each parent. Additionally, the court considered the need for injunctions to prevent the child's removal from Australia and to regulate the parties' conduct in relation to the child and each other. The court also addressed the appointment and discharge of an Independent Children's Lawyer and the provision of therapeutic support for the child and parents.

Judge Mercuri discharged all previous parenting orders and made new orders establishing equal shared parental responsibility for the child, [X]. The child was ordered to live with the applicant. Crucially, the court issued injunctions restraining both parties from taking or sending the child out of Australia until the child attained the age of 18, with the Australian Federal Police empowered to enforce this. The court then detailed an extensive schedule for the child to spend time and communicate with the father, commencing from December 2018 and extending through various school terms and holidays. Further orders mandated the parties to enrol in parenting programs and therapeutic counselling, and imposed restrictions on the applicant attending during the child's time with the father and attending the child's school for a period. Both parties were also restrained from denigrating each other in the child's presence, discussing parenting matters with the child, or leaving the child unattended. The court also outlined provisions for information sharing regarding the child's health, education, and extracurricular activities, and for facilitating communication between the child and the other parent. The Independent Children's Lawyer's appointment was to be discharged upon compliance with specific orders relating to the child's understanding of the court's orders and the parties' engagement in programs.