Sakhagi and Brawn (No 2)

In *Sakhagi and Brawn (No 2)*, Mr Sakhagi was the applicant in proceedings before Berman J of the Family Court of Australia. The dispute concerned final parenting orders for the parties' child, B, born in 2008. The parties had reached an agreement regarding the parenting arrangements for B, which they presented to the court for approval.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the consent orders, as agreed by the parties, were in the best interests of the child, B. This required the court to consider the terms of the proposed parenting arrangement and ensure it complied with the relevant provisions of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), particularly concerning the child's welfare and the principles of equal shared parental responsibility.

Berman J made orders by consent, discharging all previous orders and parenting plans. The court ordered that the parents have equal shared parental responsibility for major long-term issues concerning B, with specific provisions for consultation and decision-making. The orders detailed the child's living arrangements with the Mother and time spent with the Father, including ordinary time, holiday time, and special occasion time. Further provisions addressed civility in communications, communication with parents, changeovers, exchange of information, and general issues such as medication, substance use, and attendance at appointments. The court also stipulated a dispute resolution process requiring parties to attend family dispute resolution before making further court applications for variation of the orders, unless emergent circumstances applied. Judgment was reserved on an application relating to the child's surname.