Sinclair & Sinclair

In *Sinclair & Sinclair*, the mother applied to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia for orders permitting the parties' two children to travel internationally in 2021 to spend time in Europe with her and their extended family. The father opposed this application, citing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The central legal issue before Rees J was whether to grant the mother's application for international travel for the children, given the father's opposition and the prevailing global health crisis. The court was required to consider the implications of the pandemic on international travel and the welfare of the children.

Rees J reasoned that there was insufficient evidence presented regarding the practicalities and safety of international travel in 2021. Consequently, the court made orders to retain the children's passports, with the father to hold the passports for one child and the mother to hold the passports for the other. Both parents were restrained from removing the children from the Commonwealth of Australia pending further order.