Robinson and Shannon

In the matter of *Robinson and Shannon*, heard by Tree J, the court was required to determine parenting orders concerning two children, M and B. The dispute involved the father, Mr Robinson, and the mother, Ms Shannon, regarding the children's living arrangements, time spent with each parent, and decision-making responsibilities.

The central legal issues before the court were how to best provide for the children's welfare and development, including their living arrangements, the allocation of parental responsibility for long-term decisions, and the nature and extent of time each parent would spend with the children. The court also had to consider the appropriateness of supervised contact for the mother and address specific concerns regarding parental conduct and communication.

Tree J ordered the discharge of all previous parenting orders. The father was granted sole responsibility for major long-term decisions concerning the children, with the obligation to notify the mother in writing of such decisions and consider her views, though not be bound by them. The children were ordered to live with the father, who would be responsible for their daily care when they were with him, as would the mother when they were with her. The mother's time with the children was to be supervised, with specific provisions for contact arrangements, including during holidays and birthdays. The court also imposed injunctions restraining both parents from denigrating each other and placed specific restrictions on the mother concerning allegations of abuse and physical examination of the children. Further orders addressed communication, travel, substance use, and parental support. The mother was granted liberty to apply to vary the supervision requirements or increase her time with the children no earlier than 12 months from the date of the orders.