Morrison and Anor and Starter

In the matter of *Morrison and Anor and Starter*, heard before Cronin J, the dispute concerned parenting orders and the potential for adoption of a child. The applicants, Mr and Mrs Morrison, sought orders regarding the child's residence and parental responsibility, as well as leave to commence adoption proceedings.

The primary legal issues before the court were whether to grant equal shared parental responsibility for the child, with whom the child should live, and whether it was in the child's best interests to grant the applicants leave to commence adoption proceedings. The court was also required to consider the dismissal of other applications filed by the parties.

Cronin J determined that equal shared parental responsibility was appropriate and ordered that the child live with the applicants. Crucially, the court found that it was in the child's best interests to grant the applicants leave to commence proceedings for adoption pursuant to s 60G(1) of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). Consequently, all applications filed on 2 December 2008 were dismissed, and all proceedings were removed from the list of cases awaiting a hearing.