Koliris and Keneas

This matter concerned parenting orders for two children, L and R, born in 1999 and 2000 respectively. The proceedings were before Watts J.

The court was required to determine the nature of parental responsibility for the children, the living arrangements, the time the children would spend with each parent, and various ancillary matters including communication between parents, medical care, schooling, extracurricular activities, and the prevention of international travel.

Watts J ordered that all previous parenting orders be discharged. The parents were granted equal shared parental responsibility for the children, with a detailed process outlined for making long-term decisions. The children were ordered to live with the mother, and specific arrangements were set out for the children's time with the father, including alternate weekends, mid-week time, school holidays, birthdays, and religious holidays. The orders also included provisions for telephone communication, restrictions on disparaging remarks about a parent, medical care protocols, school involvement, a communication book, and notice periods for extracurricular activities and changes in address or changeover locations. The father was restrained from consuming alcohol for six hours prior to contact periods. Both parents were restrained from removing the children from Australia without written permission, and the Australian Federal Police were requested to place the children's names on the Airport Watch List. The court also made orders regarding school tuition and uniform costs for R, and directed the parties to attend post-separation counselling. Finally, Justice Watts was appointed to manage any future applications concerning the children.