RIZZARDI & RIZZARDI

In *Rizzardi & Rizzardi*, heard by Hannam J, the dispute concerned parenting orders for a child born in 2002. The mother had discontinued her parenting application, leaving the father as the sole applicant seeking parental responsibility. The child resided with the father and had no contact with the mother.

The court was required to determine the best interests of the child in circumstances where the mother had withdrawn her application and the child was living with the father. This involved considering the primary and additional considerations under the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) and determining the appropriate allocation of parental responsibility and living arrangements for the child.

Hannam J reasoned that the best interests of the child favoured the father having sole parental responsibility and the child living with him. The court noted that the child spent no time with the mother and that the father was the only party seeking orders. The court also made orders restraining the mother from approaching or contacting the child or attending the child's residence or school unless agreed in writing with the father, reflecting a significant concern for the child's safety and well-being.

Consequently, the court ordered that the father have sole parental responsibility for the child, that the child live with the father, and that the child spend time with the mother in accordance with the child's wishes. The mother was restrained from approaching or contacting the child or attending specified locations without prior written agreement from the father. All outstanding applications concerning the child were dismissed.