Stafford and Beveridge

This matter concerned orders made by consent between the mother and father regarding their child, J. The dispute, heard by Murphy J, involved arrangements for parental responsibility, the child's residence, international travel, communication between the parents and the child, and the child spending time with the father.

The court was required to determine the specific terms of parental responsibility, particularly concerning major long-term issues, and to establish the child's primary residence. Further issues included the conditions under which the child could live and travel internationally, the methods and frequency of communication between the parents and the child, and the arrangements for the child to spend face-to-face time with the father in Australia and potentially the USA. The court also needed to address the supervision of these arrangements and the provision of information regarding the child's welfare and activities.

Murphy J made orders by consent that addressed these matters. The mother was granted sole parental responsibility for major long-term issues, subject to specific procedural requirements to consult with the father. Each parent retained responsibility for issues not considered major long-term during periods the child resided with or spent time with them. The child was ordered to live with the mother, with provisions for international residence and travel, including notice requirements and the mother's ability to obtain passports for the child without the father's consent. Detailed communication protocols were established, including the use of technology like Skype, telephone, and email, and provisions for the father to receive information about the child's schooling, activities, and medical treatment. The orders also included a non-denigration clause.

Specific arrangements were made for the child to spend face-to-face time with the father in Australia during 2011 and 2012, with these arrangements to be supervised by a Ms B. Thereafter, the father would facilitate a 14-day visit in Brisbane during the US summer holidays annually, provided the father paid a specified sum and the child expressed a wish to visit. The father also had liberty to communicate with the child in the USA during agreed periods. All previous orders and undertakings were discharged, and extant applications were dismissed.