Sharp and Underwood

This matter concerned the children J and K, born in 2005 and 2006 respectively. The dispute involved the Applicant and the Mother regarding the living arrangements and parental responsibility for the children. The decision was made by Hogan J.

The court was required to determine the primary residence of the children, the allocation of parental responsibility for long-term and day-to-day issues, and the specific arrangements for the children spending time with each parent. Further issues included communication protocols between the parents, arrangements for school holidays, and restrictions on the Mother's access to certain health practitioners and an individual named Mr A.

Hogan J ordered that the children live with the Applicant and that the Applicant have sole parental responsibility for all major long-term issues, subject to a requirement to inform the Mother in writing of proposed decisions and consider her response. The Applicant was also granted sole responsibility for day-to-day decisions when the children are in his care. The Mother was granted sole responsibility for day-to-day decisions when the children are in her care, with specific provisions for the children spending time with her, including alternate weekends and half of school holidays. The order also detailed communication arrangements, holiday schedules, and imposed injunctions restraining the Mother from taking the children to certain health practitioners and to Mr A without the Applicant's written consent. The court also ordered the Mother to pay the Applicant's costs thrown away due to her non-appearance on a previous date.