Mulgrave and Milne

The case of *Mulgrave and Milne* concerned parenting orders for a child born in 2009. The dispute involved the applicant father and the respondent mother regarding the child's living arrangements, time spent with each parent, and communication. The matter was heard by Judge Small.

The court was required to determine the appropriate parenting orders for the child, considering the best interests of the child. This involved assessing the parents' respective capacities to provide care, the impact of past family violence and alcohol use on the child, and the child's right to maintain a relationship with both parents.

Judge Small discharged previous orders and made new orders establishing equal shared parental responsibility. The child was to live with the mother, who was permitted to remain in her current residence. The father was granted specific time with the child, including weekend and holiday periods, with detailed provisions for travel and changeovers. The court also made orders regarding communication, including electronic contact, and stipulated that the father was restrained from ingesting alcohol for 12 hours prior to and during any time the child spent with him. Furthermore, both parents were restrained from denigrating each other or discussing proceedings in the child's presence. The court noted concerns regarding the father's alcohol consumption and aggressive behaviour when intoxicated, which had caused the child fear, and urged him to consider therapeutic counselling. The mother was to facilitate the father's access to school and other institutional information concerning the child.