Robinson & Bale (No. 2)

In *Robinson & Bale (No. 2)*, the applicant, Mr. Robinson, sought parenting orders concerning his child, X, born in 2013. The respondent, Ms. Bale, the child's mother, had left the Commonwealth of Australia with the child and travelled to Ireland. The matter proceeded undefended, with the court accepting the unchallenged evidence of the applicant.

The court was required to determine whether to make a declaration pursuant to s 69VA of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) that the applicant is the father of the child. Additionally, the court considered orders for the child's return to Australia and the registration of the applicant as the child's parent on the birth certificate.

Macmillan J applied s 69VA of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) to declare Mr. Robinson as the father of the child, X. The court was satisfied that the mother had been served and that the evidence presented by the father was unchallenged. The court further ordered that the mother take all necessary steps to register the applicant as the child's parent on the birth certificate and to return the child to the Commonwealth of Australia. In the event of non-compliance with the registration order, the court made provision for a Registrar to sign the necessary documents pursuant to s 106A of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth).