NORMAN & JONES

This matter concerned parenting and property orders made by Dessau J in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia. The dispute involved the arrangements for two children, G and F, and the division of the parties' assets and liabilities.

The court was required to determine the specific parenting arrangements for the children, including where they would live, the extent of time they would spend with each parent, and how long-term decisions would be made. Additionally, the court had to make orders regarding the division of property, including monies held on trust, an apartment in Indonesia, a motor vehicle, and other assets and liabilities. The court also needed to address child maintenance and other financial obligations between the parties.

Dessau J made comprehensive parenting orders, discharging previous orders and establishing shared parental responsibility for long-term decisions. The children were ordered to live with the wife, with specific provisions for the husband to spend time with them both in Indonesia and Australia, including detailed arrangements for holidays and school terms. The court also outlined communication protocols, including Skype and telephone contact, and stipulated that the husband would be responsible for all travel costs for the children. In relation to property, the court ordered the distribution of monies held on trust, with specific sums allocated to each party and a division of any balance. The husband was permitted to sell his Indonesian apartment and a motor vehicle, retaining the net proceeds, and was to be solely liable for associated payments. Other property was to be retained by each party, with specific provisions for joint bank accounts and superannuation. The husband was also ordered to pay child maintenance for G and F, adult child maintenance for N, and specific school fees and therapy costs for G and F. The court also made orders restraining each party from denigrating the other in front of the children.