Newsome and Newsome

In *Newsome and Newsome*, heard by Judge Willis, the court was required to make final orders concerning the parental responsibility, residence, and time arrangements for four children, W, X, Y, and Z, born between 2002 and 2009. The dispute centred on how the children would live, communicate with, and be cared for by their parents following the breakdown of the parental relationship.

The primary legal issues before the court were to determine who should have sole parental responsibility for making long-term decisions regarding the children's welfare, education, health, and development, and where the children should reside. Additionally, the court had to establish specific arrangements for the children to spend time with each parent, including provisions for communication, handovers, and special occasions, while also addressing certain restrictions on the mother's contact with specific individuals and religious organisations.

Judge Willis ordered that the father have sole parental responsibility for all long-term decisions concerning the children and that the children live with the father. A moratorium period of eight weeks was imposed, during which the children were to have no contact with the mother. Following this period, detailed arrangements were set out for the children to spend time with the mother during school terms and holidays, with specific provisions for special occasions and telephone contact. The court also imposed restraints on the mother regarding contact with certain individuals and religious groups, and on both parents regarding denigrating each other or discussing the litigation with the children. The father was directed to arrange counselling for the children as needed, and the mother was to facilitate their attendance at extra-curricular activities as directed by the father. The Independent Children's Lawyer was directed to explain the orders to the children and to request their removal from certain school records.