Richards and Holmes and Anor

The parties to this proceeding were Richards and Holmes, with Holmes being the father of the child in question. The dispute concerned interim applications relating to the child. The matter came before Cronin J in the Family Court of Australia.

The court was required to determine several issues, including whether the father should be ordered to surrender the child's passport, the filing and service of responses and affidavits by both parties, and the father's participation in a child responsive program. The court also considered the question of appointing an Independent Children's Lawyer.

Cronin J ordered that the father hand the child's passport to the Registrar by a specified date. The court also directed both the applicant and the father to participate in a child responsive program pursuant to s 11F of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). Procedural directions were given regarding the filing and service of further documents by both parties. The court also ordered the father to pay the applicant's costs of $750 thrown away on that day, with a stay on payment until a later date. The court noted that the appointment of an Independent Children's Lawyer would be considered at a future hearing.