Kingston and La Firce

Justice Fowler presided over proceedings involving Kingston and La Firce, concerning parenting arrangements for their two children, L and R. The dispute centred on the long-term care, welfare, and development of the children, leading to the court's determination of specific orders governing their living arrangements, parental responsibilities, and communication protocols.

The court was required to determine the nature of parental responsibility, distinguishing between shared responsibility for long-term decisions and individual responsibility for day-to-day care. Furthermore, the court had to establish a detailed schedule for the children's living arrangements with each parent, including provisions for school holidays and special occasions. The court also needed to address communication between the parents regarding the children's welfare, the use of specific educational institutions, and the potential for derogatory comments. Finally, the court was tasked with making orders regarding the supervision of the parenting arrangements, the removal of the children from an Airport Watch List, and the allocation of costs.

Justice Fowler ordered that both parents share responsibility for long-term decisions concerning the children's care, welfare, and development, while each parent would be responsible for day-to-day decisions when the children were in their care. A comprehensive schedule was established for the children to live with their mother, with specific periods allocated for them to live with their father, including alternate weekends and school holidays. The orders also mandated communication through a communication book, required parents to keep each other informed of addresses and telephone numbers, and prohibited derogatory statements about the other parent in the children's presence. The court further ordered that the children remain enrolled at L Public School unless otherwise agreed or ordered, and that both parents advise each other of any major medical issues. The parenting orders were to be supervised by a nominated counsellor until March 2009, and the names of the children were to be removed from the Airport Watch List. Costs were allocated, with the mother ordered to pay the father's costs for a specific application and a portion of the Independent Children's Lawyer's costs, while both parents were to share the costs of Dr W equally.