OSCAR & AUSTEN

In the matter of OSCAR & AUSTEN, Benjamin J of the Family Court of Australia made orders concerning the parenting of Z Austen, born in January 2007. The dispute involved the mother, Ms Austen, and the father, Mr Oscar, regarding the child's upbringing and contact arrangements.

The court was required to determine the appropriate parenting orders, including who would have parental responsibility for the child, where the child would live, and the nature and extent of contact the father and his family could have with the child. The court also considered measures to prevent the child's international removal and the communication of information to extended family members.

Benjamin J vacated all previous parenting orders and made new orders granting the mother sole parental responsibility, including the exclusive right to determine the child's residence within Australia. The child was ordered to live with the mother. Contact for the father and his family was significantly restricted to written communication via cards and letters at specific times, with the mother responsible for ensuring the appropriateness of the content. The father was restrained from approaching or communicating with the child, except as specified. The court also ordered the father to provide contact details for his parents and sisters, who would be informed of the orders and invited to send letters to the child. To prevent international abduction, the child's name was placed on the airport watch list until January 2018.