Tobias and Werner

In the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Judge Willis presided over proceedings involving the Mother and the Father. The dispute concerned applications by both parties to appear by telephone at an interim hearing. The court also made orders regarding the attendance of the parties in person or by video-link.

The primary legal issues before the court were whether the Mother and the Father should be permitted to appear by telephone at the interim hearing, and the appropriate method of attendance for each party. The court was required to determine the best interests of the child, if relevant, and the practicalities of remote appearances in family law proceedings.

Judge Willis refused both the Mother's and the Father's applications to appear by telephone. Instead, the court ordered that the Mother attend Court in person on 4 October 2017. The Father was ordered to appear by video-link from a Federal Circuit Court location in Sydney on the same date. The interim hearing date was vacated and relisted for 4 October 2017.