Perego & Perego

In the matter of *Perego & Perego*, heard by Obradovic J, the applicant father and respondent mother sought orders concerning their child, X, born in 2017. The dispute centred on the arrangements for the child to spend time with the father, which had become sporadic since the parents' separation in January 2020. The mother raised significant concerns regarding the child's welfare, particularly in light of a police investigation into an image found on the father's mobile phone, submitting that there was an unacceptable risk to the child if he were to spend time with the father until the investigation concluded.

The court was required to determine the best interests of the child, X, in relation to parenting orders, specifically addressing the level and nature of contact between the child and the father. This involved considering the mother's allegations of the father's past behaviour, the impact of separation on the child, and the implications of the ongoing police investigation concerning the image found on the father's phone. The court also had to balance the child's need for a relationship with both parents against any identified risks.

Obradovic J reasoned that while the mother's concerns were noted, particularly regarding the police investigation, a complete cessation of contact was not in the child's best interests. The court applied the principles of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), focusing on the paramountcy of the child's welfare. The court ordered that the child live with the mother and established a phased approach to supervised time with the father, commencing with supervised visits and gradually increasing in duration and frequency. This approach aimed to reintroduce the father into the child's life in a controlled manner while acknowledging the existing concerns and the need for ongoing assessment. The court also made orders for communication between the child and father and directed the parents to share the costs of supervision and cooperate with the intake process for the supervising service. The matter was listed for further directions, with parties required to file an agreed statement of issues and a minute of order.