Sinclair and Hatcher

The case involved an application by the mother pursuant to section 90RD of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), which was dismissed by Judge Bender. The court also made orders regarding the parenting arrangements for the child, X.

The primary legal issues before the court were the mother's application under section 90RD and the determination of appropriate parenting orders, including the allocation of parental responsibility, the child's living arrangements, and the schedule for the child to spend time and communicate with the father. The court was required to consider the best interests of the child in making these determinations.

The court ordered that the parties have equal shared parental responsibility for X, with X to live with the mother. A detailed schedule was established for X to spend time and communicate with the father, including specific dates and times for weekend and holiday periods, as well as provisions for telephone contact. The orders also addressed changeover arrangements, outlined specific circumstances under which X's time with the father would be suspended, and included provisions for communication between the parties regarding X's schooling, health, and living arrangements. Furthermore, the court made orders restraining the parties from denigrating each other in X's presence and ordered the mother to undertake individual counselling.