Lane and Steiner

This case involved parenting proceedings between Ms Lane, the applicant mother, and Mr Steiner, the respondent father, concerning their daughter, J, born in June 2007. The proceedings were before the Family Court of Australia at Cairns. The primary issue before the court was whether the child should have any form of communication or supervised time with the father. It was not disputed that the child should continue to live with her mother, and that the mother should have sole parental responsibility, with orders to this effect having been made previously.

The court was required to determine the terms of final parenting orders, specifically concerning the child's living arrangements and the mother's parental responsibility. Additionally, the court considered an oral application made by the Independent Children’s Lawyer for a location order and whether to grant leave for the parties to attend a future mention by telephone. The court also had to address the father's access to the child and the mother's address, given the history of the proceedings.

Benjamin J made orders that the child live with the mother and that the mother have sole parental responsibility for decisions regarding the child's long-term and day-to-day care, welfare, and development, including education, religious and cultural upbringing, and health. The father was restrained from communicating with or approaching either the child or the mother. The court also granted leave for the Independent Children’s Lawyer to make an oral application for a location order, returnable on 26 March 2013, and permitted the parties to attend this mention by telephone. The mother's address was to be kept confidential from the father, and the father was directed to inform the Independent Children’s Lawyer of any change to his address or mobile telephone number within 24 hours.