LESSING & SIDNEY

This matter concerned parenting orders made by Watts J in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia. The dispute involved the arrangements for two children, B and C, following the separation of their parents.

The court was required to determine the future parenting arrangements for B and C, including issues of parental responsibility, living arrangements, and time spent with each parent. The court also had to consider specific arrangements for holidays, communication between the children and parents, and the children's education.

Watts J discharged all previous parenting orders. For B, no specific order was made, with the understanding that the parents would make direct arrangements for B to spend time with his mother. For C, the court ordered equal shared parental responsibility, with C to live with the father and spend time with the mother according to a detailed schedule. This schedule included alternate weekends, half of school holidays with specific provisions for July holidays and a particular trip to Country D, and additional time in Canberra under certain conditions. The orders also stipulated arrangements for Christmas, Easter, travel for changeovers, communication between C and the non-resident parent, and the exchange of information regarding the children's education and welfare. Furthermore, the court made orders concerning C's enrolment at specific schools, with the mother to be responsible for fees at D School from 2017. The orders incorporated a Fact Sheet detailing the obligations and consequences of contravention, pursuant to sections 65DA(2) and 62B of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth).