Oakley and Anor and Read

In the matter of Oakley and Anor and Read, Moore J of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia considered parenting orders concerning the children K and L. The dispute involved the parents, Ms Read and the fathers, G Oakley and P Oakley, and their arrangements for the children's living situations and time with each parent.

The court was required to determine the most appropriate parenting arrangements for K and L, including the discharge of previous orders, the allocation of parental responsibility, and the specific living arrangements and time each child would spend with their respective parents. A key issue was the mother's election to either live in C or not, and the consequential impact on the children's residence and the fathers' involvement. The court also had to consider the practicalities of implementing these arrangements, including financial assistance and communication.

Moore J discharged all previous parenting orders and made new orders for equal shared parental responsibility for both children. The court ordered that the children were to live in C, with all three parents facilitating this move. The mother was given an election to live in C, with detailed provisions for financial assistance and arrangements for her accommodation and the children's schooling if she chose to do so. If she elected to live in C, the children would live with her, with specific time allocated to each father during school terms and holidays, and provisions for special occasions and communication. If the mother elected not to live in C, the children would live with their fathers in C, with defined time arrangements for the mother during school terms and holidays, and provisions for travel costs and communication. The court also ordered supervision of these arrangements by a Family Consultant for three months.