Partland and Anor and Partland and Anor

In the matter of Partland and Anor and Partland and Anor, Dawe J of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia made orders concerning the living arrangements and parental responsibility for three children, C, B, and D. The dispute involved the parents and the paternal grandmother, with the court ultimately determining the primary care and responsibility for the children.

The court was required to determine where the children would live, who would have sole parental responsibility for them, and the extent to which the parents and paternal grandfather would spend time with the children. Additionally, the court had to consider what conditions or restrictions, if any, should be placed on the parents' time with the children, and the ongoing communication and information sharing between the parties regarding the children's welfare.

Dawe J ordered that the children live with the paternal grandmother and that she have sole parental responsibility. The paternal grandfather was granted time with the children as agreed with the paternal grandmother. The parents were ordered to spend time with the children on alternate weekends, with specific handover arrangements. Crucially, the court imposed several injunctions on the parents, restraining them from consuming alcohol or illicit substances while the children were in their care, exposing the children to violence, denigrating the paternal grandparents, or failing to use appropriate car restraints. The court also ordered the paternal grandmother to provide school reports to the parents and for all parties to inform each other of any illness or emergency concerning the children. The Independent Children's Lawyer was discharged, and all matters were removed from the active pending list.