Rigby and Rigby

In the matter of *Rigby and Rigby*, Bennett J considered a contravention application filed by the father and applications by both parents seeking to vary existing parenting orders. The dispute concerned the time the children would spend with their father.

The court was required to determine whether the father's contravention application disclosed a sufficient basis to proceed, and to make interim parenting orders regarding the children's time with the father, pending further determination. The court also considered the need for independent representation for the children and the referral of the matter to a child responsive program.

Bennett J dismissed the father's contravention application for failing to particularise the alleged contravention. The court then made interim parenting orders, suspending certain previous orders and establishing a supervised contact regime for the children with their father, to be supervised by the paternal grandfather. The court also ordered the matter to be referred to the Child Responsive Program and appointed an independent children's lawyer. The court further ordered that the father's and mother's proposed orders be marked as exhibits and stand as their respective applications.