Pallas and Pallas (No 3)

This matter concerned applications by the father and mother regarding parenting orders for their children, B and C. The court, presided over by Watts J, was required to determine variations to existing orders concerning the children's time with each parent, international travel, and therapeutic counselling.

The primary legal issues before the court were the specific arrangements for the father's time with the children, including the frequency and duration of contact, and the conditions under which the mother could travel internationally with the children. Additionally, the court needed to address the commencement and continuation of therapeutic counselling for child C, including parental involvement and cost-sharing, and the attendance of both children at counselling sessions. The court also considered the implications of contravening the orders and the provision of information to assist the parties.

Watts J varied the existing orders to provide the father with specific Tuesday and Saturday contact with the children, and suspended the father's time during the mother's approved four-week international travel period with the children to Country O during the NSW Christmas school holidays. The mother was restrained from removing the children from Australia for this travel unless specific notice and itinerary requirements were met. The court also made detailed provisions for make-up time with the father upon the mother's return and mandated that both parents facilitate and equally share the costs of therapeutic counselling for child C with a specified psychologist, Ms F, from Term 1, 2014. The children were ordered to attend counselling as recommended by Ms F, provided it did not interfere with school attendance, with provisions for alternative arrangements if necessary. The court also included a Fact Sheet detailing the obligations and consequences of contravening the orders, pursuant to sections 65DA(2) and 62B of the relevant legislation.