Liney and Anor and Hanks and Anor

This matter concerned parenting orders for four children, M, A, K, and N, and involved the children's parents and their maternal grandparents. The dispute centred on the appropriate living arrangements and parental responsibilities for the children, with the maternal grandparents seeking orders that would see the children live with them and have equal shared parental responsibility.

The court was required to determine the paramount consideration of the children's best interests in making parenting orders, as stipulated by section 60CA of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). This involved a detailed consideration of the matters set out in section 60CC of the Act, including the primary considerations of the benefit to the children of a meaningful relationship with both parents and the need to protect them from harm. The court also had to assess additional considerations such as the children's views, their relationships with their parents and grandparents, the parents' ability to facilitate relationships, the likely effect of changes in circumstances, and the capacity of each party to provide for the children's needs.

In reaching its decision, the court applied the principles of section 60CA and 60CC of the *Family Law Act*. The court's reasoning, though not fully detailed in the provided text, led to the conclusion that the children's best interests were served by them living with their maternal grandparents and sharing equal parental responsibility. Specific conditions were imposed on the parents' time with the children, focusing on the need for sobriety, proper supervision, and adequate accommodation, as well as restrictions on discussing court proceedings with the children.

Consequently, all previous parenting orders were vacated. The children were ordered to live with their maternal grandparents, who were granted equal shared parental responsibility. The parents were to spend time with the children as agreed with the grandparents, subject to strict conditions regarding alcohol and drug use, supervision, and accommodation. The parents were also restrained from discussing court proceedings with the children or allowing them to read related documents. The maternal grandparents' amended application was otherwise dismissed.