Pattison and Parry

This matter concerned parenting orders made by Judge Baker in relation to the child, X. The dispute centred on the allocation of parental responsibility and the specific arrangements for X's time with each parent, as well as communication protocols and restrictions on unsupervised care.

The court was required to determine the most appropriate parenting arrangements for X, considering the child's best interests. This involved deciding on the level of parental responsibility to be afforded to each parent, the specific time X would spend with the father, and the conditions under which such time would occur. Further issues included the method of communication between the parents, the provision of information to the father regarding X's schooling and medical care, and any necessary restrictions on the unsupervised care of X.

Judge Baker discharged all previous parenting orders and made new orders that granted the mother sole parental responsibility for X, with specific procedural requirements for the mother to follow when making major long-term decisions. These requirements included advising the father in writing of intended decisions, seeking his response, considering that response in light of X's best interests, and then advising him of the ultimate decision. The court also ordered that the mother provide an authority to X's school and medical professionals to allow the father access to information. Communication between the parties was to be primarily via email, except in emergencies, and both parents were ordered to notify each other of any serious illness or injury to X while in their care. The father was granted specific time with X on alternate weeks, with detailed provisions for special days including birthdays, Christmas, and Easter, and changeovers were to occur at a designated library. Crucially, the mother was restrained from leaving X in the unsupervised care of two named individuals, and both parents were restrained from denigrating each other in X's presence.