Lorente and Lorente

In the matter of *Lorente and Lorente*, Bennett J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application by the mother concerning parenting orders for a child born in March 1999. The dispute involved the father's contact arrangements with the child, which the mother sought to suspend.

The court was required to determine whether to grant the mother's oral ex-parte application for the suspension of current spend time arrangements between the father and the child. The court also needed to establish procedural directions for the final hearing, including the filing and service of amended applications, affidavit material, and the independent children's lawyer's preliminary views.

Bennett J ordered that the mother have leave to proceed with her application to suspend the father's time with the child. Pending the final hearing on 27 May 2009, the court suspended the father's time with the child, with the exception of supervised contact at the B Contact Centre. Both parents were directed to apply to the B Centre for inclusion in the supervised contact program, with the father's application being without prejudice to his right to argue against the necessity of supervision. The court also issued detailed directions regarding the exchange of documents and set a date for the final hearing, noting that final orders could be made in the father's absence. Liberty was reserved to the father to apply to vary or set aside these interim orders.