Roney &Goodwin & Anor

In the matter of *Roney & Goodwin & Anor*, Cleary J of the Family Court of Australia considered applications concerning the living arrangements and parental responsibility for two children. The dispute centred on the children's welfare, with each parent seeking specific outcomes regarding their care and decision-making authority.

The court was required to determine with whom the eldest child should live, given the child's strong bond with both parents and a history of primary care with the father for approximately seven years. Furthermore, the court had to assess parental responsibility for the eldest child, particularly in light of the mother's alleged attempts to undermine the father-child relationship and the parents' communication difficulties. For the youngest child, the court needed to decide on living arrangements and parental responsibility, considering the child's primary attachment to the mother, a loving relationship with the father, and the parents' differing approaches to conflict and the child's well-being.

Cleary J's reasoning was significantly informed by the evidence of a Single Expert, who deposed that the eldest child's development would be enhanced by one parent having the majority of care. The court found that the mother's actions had placed pressure on the eldest child and undermined the father-child relationship, leading to an order that the eldest child live with the father and that the father have sole parental responsibility. Regarding the youngest child, the court noted the parents' relationship was less acrimonious than that concerning the eldest child. The Single Expert indicated that shared parental responsibility was feasible for the youngest child with carefully defined orders. Consequently, the court ordered that the youngest child live primarily with the mother, with progressively increasing time spent with the father, aiming for a shared care arrangement. Parental responsibility for the youngest child was ordered to be shared, with the father having sole responsibility for health, medical, and psychological advice.