Lombard & William

In *Lombard & William*, Burr J of the Family Court of Australia considered a dispute between parents regarding the time their children would spend with each parent. The parties had agreed that the children would live with the wife, but disagreed on the extent of the husband's time with them. The husband's work involved a four-day on, four-day off roster, and the wife was concerned about the disruption of mid-week contact, proposing to limit the husband's time to weekends when he was rostered off.

The central legal issue before the court was to determine the parenting arrangements for the children, specifically the quantum and nature of the time they should spend with the husband, having regard to the factors set out in section 60CC of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). This involved assessing what was in the best interests of the children, particularly in light of the wife's proposed relocation of the family residence and the children's schools, and the husband's work schedule.

Burr J reasoned that the wife's proposal to significantly reduce the children's time with the husband was not child-focused and did not serve their best interests. The court found that the children spending substantial and significant time with the husband, including mid-week contact, was beneficial. The court also ordered that the wife be restrained from contacting the children while they were in the husband's care, except in emergencies. The parties were also ordered to make arrangements for the exchange of children's belongings outside of school.