NORTH & NORTH

This matter concerned parenting orders and property settlement between the husband and wife, referred to as NORTH & NORTH. The dispute was heard by Cronin J.

The court was required to determine the terms of parenting arrangements for the child S, including the allocation of parental responsibility, the child's living arrangements, and the time the child would spend with each parent. Additionally, the court needed to make orders regarding the division of the parties' assets and liabilities, including real property, investments, vehicles, savings, shares, and superannuation interests.

Cronin J ordered that all existing parenting orders be discharged and that the husband and wife have equal shared parental responsibility for S. The child was ordered to live with the wife, with specific provisions for time spent with the husband, including alternate weekends, Thursday evenings, and a phased increase in weekend time from the fourth term of the 2010 school year. The court also detailed arrangements for school holidays, Christmas, and other significant periods, with provisions for collection and return of the child. The orders also stipulated that each party keep the other informed of their contact details and be at liberty to obtain school reports and attend school events. The court noted that specific arrangements for Mother's Day, Father's Day, birthdays, Easter, and overseas travel were to be negotiated, failing which the parties were to attend mediation.

In relation to property settlement, the wife was ordered to pay the husband $430,000 by a specified date. The wife was to retain certain assets, including properties at B and M, MLC investments, her car, shares, savings, and home contents, while the husband was to relinquish his interest in these. Conversely, the husband was to retain the property at H, his savings, car, and shares, with the wife relinquishing her interest. The court ordered the transfer of interests in various properties and investments to give effect to this division, with the receiving party to bear the costs. A specific mechanism was established for the sale of the B property if the wife failed to make the payment. The parties were made responsible for payments on specific mortgaged properties and vehicles. Furthermore, a sum of $105,000 was to be transferred from the wife's superannuation member account to the husband's, with the trustees of the self-managed superannuation fund directed to give effect to this order. The husband was to resign as a member and trustee of the fund after rolling out his entitlements. All other outstanding applications between the parties were dismissed, save for any in relation to costs.