McGarat and England (No 2)

In *McGarat and England (No 2)*, Justice Dawe of the Family Court of Australia considered urgent interim orders concerning the welfare of two children, S and L. The proceedings involved the parents of the children, whose names are not explicitly stated in the provided text, but the case is identified by the parties' surnames.

The central legal issues before the court were the immediate living arrangements for the children, the allocation of parental responsibility, and the need for protective measures to ensure the children's safety and well-being. The court was also required to determine the extent to which each parent should be restrained from contacting or interfering with the children and their schooling, and the necessity of obtaining expert evidence to inform future decisions.

Justice Dawe reasoned that, in light of the circumstances, it was necessary to make interim orders for the children to live with their father and for him to have sole parental responsibility. The court granted injunctions restraining the mother from attending the children's school and from contacting or removing the children. Conversely, the father was also restrained from any form of physical discipline of the children. The court further ordered that the parties and children attend a single expert for an urgent report, to be arranged by the Independent Children's Lawyer, with initial costs borne by the Legal Services Commission. The matter was adjourned for further consideration upon receipt of this report.