Rance and Shorrock and Anor

This matter concerned an application before Judge Altobelli concerning the living arrangements and time spent with two children, X and Y. The primary dispute revolved around the parental responsibility and the daily care of the children, with specific orders sought regarding their residence and contact with their father, mother, and maternal grandmother.

The court was required to determine the interim living arrangements for child X, who was to live with the Father, and child Y, who was to live with the maternal Grandmother. Further, the court needed to establish a detailed schedule for the children's time with their respective parents and grandmother, progressively increasing the duration of these periods. The court also had to address the issue of parental responsibility, specifically whether it should be equal shared responsibility, and to make orders restraining negative communication about the other parties in the presence of the children.

In its reasoning, the court made orders for the children to live with the Father and maternal Grandmother respectively, and for day-to-day responsibility to be shared between the Father and maternal Grandmother. Crucially, the court ordered equal shared parental responsibility for the Father, Mother, and maternal Grandmother. The court also imposed prohibitions on the parties speaking negatively about each other or discussing the proceedings in the presence of the children. The matter was adjourned for a final hearing, with directions given for the filing of further material and the appointment of an Independent Children's Lawyer.