Knott and Vickers (No. 3)

This case, heard by Guest J, concerned parenting orders for a child named SA. The dispute involved the parents' responsibilities and the child's living arrangements. The court's decision addressed the discharge of previous orders and established new arrangements for shared parental responsibility, the child's residence, and specific holiday and birthday arrangements.

The court was required to determine the specific terms of parenting orders, including how parental responsibility would be shared, the primary residence of the child, and the detailed schedule for the child's time with each parent. Further issues included provisions for decision-making regarding the child's health, education, and religion, as well as arrangements for communication, travel, and the child's name and baptismal details. The court also considered the role and discharge of the Independent Children's Lawyer and the implications of contravening the orders.

Guest J discharged all previous parenting orders and established a framework for shared parental responsibility, with the wife initially making key decisions regarding the child's health, education, and religion, subject to specific notification and objection periods for the husband. The court ordered that the child live with the father on an alternate weekly basis during school terms, with detailed provisions for school holidays, birthdays, and specific religious observances. The orders also included provisions for the child's name, baptism, and the issuance and safekeeping of an Australian passport, along with a directive for the wife to withdraw certain allegations and remove the child from an intervention order. The court also noted the husband's agreement to contribute to the child's tuition fees.