Peakridge and Martin

In the matter of *Peakridge and Martin*, Justice Cronin of the Family Court of Australia considered an application concerning the parenting arrangements for two children, J and M. The dispute involved the mother's proposed relocation with the children and the father's contact arrangements.

The court was required to determine the best interests of the children, specifically addressing issues of equal shared parental responsibility, the children's living arrangements, the mother's application to relocate the children to Canberra, and the father's future time with and communication with the children. Additionally, the court considered the appropriateness of certain injunctions sought by the mother regarding the children's contact with specific individuals.

Justice Cronin ordered that the parties have equal shared parental responsibility for J, and that both children, J and M, live with the mother. The mother was permitted to relocate the children to Canberra. The court established detailed arrangements for the father's time with the children, including collection and return protocols, and permitted him to communicate with them by telephone or email. The mother was ordered to keep the father informed of various matters, including medical emergencies, her contact details, school events, and school reports, and to provide 28 days' written notice of any move from Canberra. Crucially, the mother was restrained by injunction from allowing the children to come into contact with Mr JD, CD, SD, and RD. The Independent Children's Lawyer was granted leave to file an affidavit and was subsequently discharged from the proceedings.