Meighan and Gains and Ors

This case concerned an application for parenting orders regarding the child L Meighan, born in August 2007. The parties involved were the child's father, Mr Meighan, and the child's maternal grandmother, Ms Mercer. The court was required to determine the nature of parental responsibility and the living arrangements for the child.

The central legal issues before the court were the allocation of parental responsibility for long-term decisions concerning the child, including education and healthcare, and the establishment of a schedule for the child's time with each party. The court also had to consider the mother's involvement in the child's life, given specific concerns raised, and the need for clear communication and cooperation between the father and maternal grandmother.

Cleary J ordered that the father and maternal grandmother share equal parental responsibility for all long-term issues concerning the child, with the exception of speech therapy, for which the father would have sole responsibility. Each party was granted sole responsibility for the child's day-to-day care when the child was with them. The court also made detailed orders regarding the child's living arrangements, including a phased introduction of alternating care arrangements over several weeks, followed by a regular pattern of alternating weekends and weekdays. Further orders addressed communication between the parties regarding the child's schooling, medical and dental care, and extracurricular activities, and imposed restrictions on criticism of each other in the child's presence. Specific orders were made concerning the mother's contact with the child, contingent on her compliance with medication and avoidance of illicit substances, and the maternal grandmother's discretion in facilitating such contact. The court also noted that particulars of obligations and consequences of contravention were set out in an attached Fact Sheet, pursuant to sections 65DA(2) and 62B of the *Family Law Act 1975*. All outstanding applications were dismissed.