RAND & PORTER

In the matter of *Rand & Porter*, Ms Rand sought parenting orders concerning the parties' child. The court, presided over by Barry J, made orders by default.

The primary legal issues before the court concerned the determination of parental responsibility, the nature and location of contact between the father and the child, and the imposition of restraining orders against the father. The court was required to consider the best interests of the child in making these determinations, particularly in light of the default nature of the orders.

Barry J ordered that the child live with the mother and that the mother have sole parental responsibility for all decisions concerning the child. Contact between the father and the child was to be supervised at a contact centre, and any telephone communication was to be initiated by the child, with the father subject to strict restraining orders. These orders prohibited stalking, direct communication with the mother and her associates, approaching the mother's residence or workplace, removing the child from Queensland without consent, re-enrolling the child in another school, discussing adult matters with the child, questioning the child about the mother's living arrangements, denigrating the mother or her family to the child, and requesting to speak with the mother during calls with the child. The mother was also ordered to acquire a post office box for a period of twelve months.