Landy and Warhurst

In the matter of Landy and Warhurst, heard by Judge Henderson, the dispute concerned the parenting arrangements for a child, X. The father sought orders for sole parental responsibility and that the child live with him, with significant restrictions on the mother's contact and involvement with the child.

The court was required to determine the best interests of the child, X, in circumstances where the mother's contact and involvement were to be at the father's sole discretion. The court also had to consider whether to grant injunctions restraining the mother from contacting the child's school or reporting to the Department of Human Services or Police, and whether to permit the father to provide copies of the orders and family reports to various authorities and professionals.

Judge Henderson reasoned that the orders made were in the best interests of the child, X. The court discharged all prior orders relating to the child and made specific directions regarding parental responsibility, the child's residence, and the mother's contact. Crucially, the father was granted sole parental responsibility and the child was to live with him. The mother was restrained from contacting the child's school or reporting to the Department of Human Services or Police. The father was permitted to provide copies of the orders and specific family reports to the police, the Department of Human Services, the child's school, and the child's psychologist. These orders were made pursuant to section 65DA(2) of the *Family Law Act 1975*, with particulars of obligations and consequences for contravention set out in an attachment.