Lane and Armstrong

Austin J made orders concerning the child X, born in 2014, in a dispute between the child's mother and father. The orders discharged all previous orders relating to the child and established new arrangements for parental responsibility, residence, and time spent with each parent.

The court was required to determine the terms of parental responsibility, the child's primary residence, and the specific arrangements for the father's time with the child, including provisions for interstate and international travel. Additionally, the court needed to address the recognition and enforcement of its orders in the United Kingdom and set out conditions for the mother to establish the child's residence outside Australia.

Austin J ordered that the mother have sole parental responsibility for major long-term issues concerning the child, with a requirement to consult the father before making such decisions and to notify him of the final decision and reasons. The child was ordered to live with the mother, who was restrained from establishing the child's residence outside Australia or the UK unless specific conditions were met regarding the recognition and enforceability of the orders in the United Kingdom under the Child Protection Convention. Detailed provisions were made for the child to spend time with the father, varying according to whether the parties resided in Australia or the UK, and including specific arrangements for communication and travel. The court also made orders restraining alcohol consumption by the father during his time with the child, prohibiting denigration of either parent in the child's presence, and requiring the mother to provide school reports to the father.