Picpus and Sentier

In the matter of *Picpus and Sentier*, Brown J of the Family Court of Australia considered parenting orders concerning two children, H and R. The dispute involved the mother's application to relocate the children to Queensland and the father's contact arrangements.

The court was required to determine the primary issue of whether the mother should be granted sole parental responsibility for the children and permitted to relocate them to Queensland. Subsidiary issues included the nature and extent of the father's future contact with the children, including the necessity for supervised contact, and the terms of communication and information sharing between the parents.

Brown J ordered that all previous parenting orders and injunctions be discharged. The mother was granted sole parental responsibility and the children were ordered to live with her. Crucially, the mother was permitted to relocate the children to Queensland. The father was granted supervised time with the children in Melbourne, with specific conditions regarding the supervisors and the father's conduct. The orders also detailed communication arrangements via telephone and post, with specific restraints placed on both parents regarding denigration of the other and discussion of the proceedings with the children. The father was also restrained from consuming illicit substances and alcohol prior to and during contact.