Loraq and Royce

In Loraq and Royce, heard before Judge Brown, the dispute concerned interim parenting orders for a child, [X], born in 2010. The mother sought orders for the child to live with her and for the father to be restrained from approaching the child's place of education and recreational activities.

The court was required to determine the interim living arrangements for the child and whether to issue an injunction against the father. Additionally, the court needed to consider the process for obtaining a family report to inform future decisions regarding the child's welfare and best interests.

Judge Brown ordered that the child, [X], live with the mother and issued an injunction restraining the father from attending the child's school and recreational locations. The matter was adjourned for a final hearing in May 2017. Crucially, the court directed the parties and the child to attend an assessment for a family report, to be prepared by a Regulation 7 practitioner, with specific matters to be addressed in the report, including the child's views and relevant sections of the Family Law Act 1975. The court also made detailed provisions regarding the dissemination of the family report, including noting the potential evidentiary status of the report and the strictures of section 121 of the Family Law Act 1975.