Murdoch and Bell

In the matter of *Murdoch and Bell*, Dawe J of the Family Court of Australia considered parenting orders concerning two children, K and J. The father had filed an Initiating Application on 21 April 2010, and the proceedings involved a dispute over the children's care, welfare, and development.

The court was required to determine the appropriate parenting arrangements for the children, including where they would live, the time they would spend with each parent, and parental responsibility. The court also had to consider the process for resolving any differences between the parties regarding these matters.

Dawe J ordered that the parties attend privileged counselling pursuant to section 13C of the *Family Law Act 1975* to discuss the children's care, welfare, and development and to endeavour to resolve their differences. The father's Initiating Application was to be referred to a Registrar for directions after the counselling. The matter was adjourned to 7 September 2011, with all previous parenting orders discharged. Pending further application, the children were ordered to live with the father, spend time with the mother as agreed or ordered, and the father was to have sole parental responsibility for both children. The court also included particulars of obligations and consequences of contravention in a fact sheet attached to the orders.