Rusek and Rusek

In the matter of *Rusek and Rusek*, Cronin J of the Family Court of Australia considered parenting orders concerning the children B, C, D, and E. The dispute involved the arrangements for the children's living arrangements and time spent with each parent, as well as the wife's ability to take the children out of Australia.

The court was required to determine the nature of parental responsibility for the children, whether the wife should be restrained from removing the children from Australia permanently, and the specific arrangements for the children to live with and spend time with each parent. The court also had to consider the retention of the children's passports and the division of time during school holidays.

Cronin J ordered the discharge of all extant parenting orders and established equal shared parental responsibility for the children. The wife was restrained from permanently removing the children from Australia. The court implemented a specific equal time-sharing arrangement, whereby the children would spend five days with the husband, followed by five days with the wife, then two days with the husband, and finally two days with the wife, creating a continuous fortnightly cycle. This arrangement was to commence on a date to be agreed or, failing agreement, on 26 February 2016. The court further ordered that during school holidays, parents would share the time equally, with the husband having the first half in even-numbered years and the wife in odd-numbered years, unless otherwise agreed. The husband was ordered to retain all children's passports. All other applications were dismissed.