OAKES & OAKES

This matter concerned parenting orders made by Benjamin J in the Family Court of Australia. The proceedings involved Ms Oakes (the mother) and Mr Oakes (the father) regarding their child, J Oakes. The court was required to determine the future parenting arrangements for the child, including issues of parental responsibility, residence, contact, and international travel.

The court was tasked with determining the extent of parental responsibility each parent would hold, where the child would reside, and the nature and extent of any contact or communication between the father and the child. Additionally, the court needed to address the child's ability to travel internationally and the father's ability to apply for a passport for the child. The court also considered the need for protective injunctions for the child and the mother.

Benjamin J ordered that the mother have sole and exclusive parental responsibility for the child. The previous orders restraining the mother from removing the child from Australia and placing the child on the Airport Watch List were discharged. The child was permitted to travel internationally, and the mother could apply for a passport for the child without the father's consent. The child was ordered to live with the mother. Contact between the father and the child was significantly restricted, with the father generally having no contact or communication except for one photograph per year, unless otherwise agreed in writing. The father was restrained by injunction from any communication with the child and from approaching within 100 metres of the child, the mother, their home, or the child's educational facilities. Both parties were restrained from speaking derogatorily about each other in the child's presence, and the father was further restrained from abusing or denigrating family members of the mother via electronic means or otherwise.