McGrath and Bean

This matter concerned an application by Ms McGrath (the mother) and Mr Bean (the father) regarding parenting orders for their two children, X and Y. The proceedings were before Judge Obradovic.

The court was required to determine the parenting arrangements for the children, including the allocation of parental responsibility, the children's living arrangements, and the time each parent would spend with them. Additionally, the court considered orders relating to communication between parents and children, the sharing of information regarding the children's welfare and education, and restrictions on parental behaviour. The court also addressed a specific application concerning the registration of one of the children's names.

Judge Obradovic made orders for equal shared parental responsibility for both children. The children were ordered to live with the father, with specific provisions for the mother's time with them, including alternate weekends, alternate mid-week periods, and a division of school holiday periods. The orders also detailed specific times for each parent to spend with the children on significant dates such as Mother's Day, Father's Day, birthdays, and Christmas. Further orders included provisions for communication, information sharing, and a restraint on denigrating the other parent. Crucially, an injunction was granted restraining the mother from consuming alcohol for 12 hours prior to and during her time with the children, and both parties were ordered to attend a parenting program. The court also made orders for the child Y to be registered under a specific name.