Noel and Sun

Bell J made orders concerning the parental responsibility and living arrangements for five children, B, J, T, L, and Y. The primary dispute revolved around the children's residence and the extent of each parent's involvement in their lives, particularly in light of the father's alcohol consumption.

The court was required to determine the appropriate living arrangements for the children, who would have parental responsibility, and the nature and extent of the time the children would spend with the father. Additionally, the court needed to address the father's alcohol consumption in relation to contact with the children and establish mechanisms for information sharing and reporting on the operation of the orders.

Bell J ordered that the children live with the mother and that she have sole parental responsibility. The father was granted specific, supervised contact arrangements with three of the children (T, L, and Y), including attendance at a contact centre and telephone contact, with the father to bear the costs of the contact centre. The court also imposed a condition that the father not consume alcohol for eight hours before or during contact. The mother was ordered to keep the father informed about the children's schooling and medical care and to authorise the release of information to him. A report was to be prepared regarding the operation of the orders, after which the Independent Children's Lawyer could relist the matter. The father was also permitted to attend usual school and sporting functions. The orders included a fact sheet detailing obligations, consequences of contravention, and assistance resources.