Suarez and Turner

This matter concerned an application for final parenting orders in relation to the child B, born in 2009. The dispute was before Hannam J of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.

The court was required to determine the living arrangements for the child, the allocation of parental responsibility, and the specific time the child would spend with each parent. Further issues included provisions for communication between the child and each parent, the exchange of information regarding the child's education and welfare, and the involvement of therapeutic professionals. The court also had to consider orders restraining certain conduct by the parents and addressing emergency situations.

Hannam J made orders that the child would live with the father and that the father would have sole parental responsibility for the child's health and education, with equal shared parental responsibility for long-term care, welfare, and development. The mother was granted specific time with the child during school terms and holidays, including provisions for Mother's Day and Father's Day. The orders also detailed changeover arrangements, communication protocols, and the exchange of school-related documents. Crucially, the mother was restrained from consuming alcohol for a specified period before and during her time with the child, and both parents were prohibited from denigrating each other or discussing the proceedings in the child's presence. The father was also ordered to facilitate therapy for the child.