MAROU & AZIZ

In the matter of *Marou & Aziz*, heard by Judge Humphreys, the dispute concerned the parenting arrangements for a child, X, following the breakdown of the relationship between her parents. The mother sought sole parental responsibility for X, while the father also sought sole parental responsibility.

The court was required to determine the best interests of the child, considering the factors outlined in section 60CC of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). A key issue was the presence of evidence of family violence, specifically a threat of female genital mutilation directed at the child.

Judge Humphreys found that the presumption in favour of shared parental responsibility was rebutted due to the evidence of family violence. Applying the principles of the *Family Law Act*, the court concluded that it was in X's best interests to live with the mother and for the mother to have sole parental responsibility. Consequently, the court ordered that X shall live with the mother and have no time or communication with the father. Previous orders regarding X, including her placement on an airport watch list, were discharged, and the court requested the Australian Federal Police to remove her name from the list. The mother was granted sole parental responsibility for the purposes of the *Australian Passports Act 2005* (Cth), authorising her to obtain a passport for X to travel overseas without the father's consent.