Labeck & Calandros (No 4)

In the matter of *Labeck & Calandros (No 4)*, heard before Young J, the applicant father brought a contravention application against the respondent mother concerning alleged breaches of parenting orders. The dispute centred on the mother's alleged failure to comply with specific orders on three dates in late 2020.

The court was required to determine whether the mother had contravened the parenting orders on the specified dates. Specifically, the court needed to assess the evidence presented regarding her alleged failures to comply and consider whether any reasonable excuse existed for any proven contraventions. The court also had to consider the appropriate penalty for any proven contraventions, taking into account previous findings of contravention and the mother's behaviour.

Young J found the mother guilty of contravening the parenting orders on 9 September 2020, 7 October 2020, and 9 December 2020. However, the court found that the mother had a reasonable excuse for not taking the children to A Family Services on 30 December 2020, due to a hand injury confirmed by hospital records, and therefore dismissed that specific count. In relation to penalty, the court noted that the mother had previously been found guilty of a contravention and had entered into a good behaviour bond. Considering the mother's lack of insight into the children's needs and problematic substance use, the court ordered that she enter into a new bond without surety or security for two years, with the condition that she comply with all parenting orders. The contravention application was otherwise dismissed. The court also ordered that the father's costs be offset against his child support arrears.