POLSON & POLSON

In the matter of POLSON & POLSON, Foster J considered parenting orders concerning two children, B and C. The dispute involved the father seeking sole parental responsibility and the children living with him, while the mother's contact arrangements were contested.

The court was required to determine the best interests of the children in relation to their living arrangements, parental responsibility, and the nature and extent of contact the mother would have with them. This included assessing the suitability of supervised contact and the conditions under which it might occur, as well as addressing issues of drug screening and parental conduct.

Foster J reasoned that the existing parenting orders were no longer in the children's best interests and ordered that they be discharged. The father was granted sole parental responsibility, and the children were to live with him. Contact for the mother was to be supervised by a contact centre, with specific requirements for assessment, attendance, and compliance with the centre's policies. The mother was also ordered to undertake drug screening and pay for supervised contact. Further orders addressed communication between the parents, the role of the Independent Children's Lawyer, and prohibitions against denigration and discussing proceedings with the children. The court also made provisions for the eventual relaxation of supervised contact upon satisfactory drug screening results and outlined procedures for varying or restoring the matter to the list if circumstances changed.