NAGEL & TRAVIS

This matter concerned parental decision-making and time arrangements for a child born in 2013, with the parties being the mother and father. The court, presided over by Judge Young, was tasked with determining the specific orders regarding the child's upbringing, including where the child would live, how time would be spent with each parent, and how significant decisions would be made.

The central legal issues before the court were the allocation of parental responsibility, particularly concerning decisions about the child's education and health, and the establishment of a detailed schedule for the child to spend time with the father. The court also had to consider conditions precedent to certain time arrangements, the costs associated with travel, communication protocols between the parents and the child, and the imposition of injunctions to ensure the child's safety and well-being. Furthermore, the court needed to address the exchange of information between the parents and the role of an Independent Children's Lawyer.

The court ordered that the mother and father share equal parental responsibility for the child, with the exception of decisions concerning the child's education and health. For these specific areas, the mother was granted the primary decision-making authority, provided she informed the father in writing of the issue and her proposed decision, considered his views, and allowed a 14-day period for agreement before making the final decision. The child was ordered to live with the mother, and a structured schedule for the child to spend time with the father was established, contingent on the father providing a statement from a qualified counsellor confirming he had addressed his alcohol and anti-social behavioural issues. Until this condition was met, the father's time was limited. The court also made detailed orders regarding travel costs, telephone communication, and injunctions restraining both parents from specific behaviours, including substance abuse and speaking negatively about the other parent. The mother was also restrained from moving the child's ordinary place of residence without the father's written consent. The Independent Children's Lawyer was to be discharged six months from the date of the orders.