Tomlin and Tomlin

In the matter of *Tomlin and Tomlin*, Justice Austin of the Family Court of Australia considered parenting orders concerning a child, J. The dispute involved the arrangements for the child's care and the responsibilities of each parent.

The court was required to determine the future parenting arrangements for the child, including issues of parental responsibility, the child's residence, and the imposition of specific prohibitions and obligations on the parents. The court also had to consider the implications of a pre-existing family violence order on the father's ability to communicate with the mother and child.

Justice Austin discharged all former parenting orders and made new orders granting the mother sole parental responsibility and stipulating that the child live with her. The court also imposed restraints on both parents, prohibiting corporal punishment and denigration of the other parent in the child's presence. Furthermore, parents were obligated to notify each other of medical emergencies and authorise communication with treating professionals. The court noted that the absence of express orders for the child to spend time or communicate with the father did not preclude future negotiation on these matters, subject to the existing family violence order.