Tran and Ferguson and Anor

The case of *Tran and Ferguson* involved a dispute concerning the parental responsibility and living arrangements for a child, N, born in October 2004. The proceedings were heard by Fowler J. The court made orders regarding the child's residence, time spent with each parent, and specific conditions to be met by the mother.

The legal issues before the court included determining the appropriate allocation of sole parental responsibility for the child, establishing the child's primary residence, and defining the specific time each parent would spend with the child. Additionally, the court considered conditions to be imposed on the mother to facilitate her future sole parental responsibility and the father's time with the child.

Fowler J ordered that, subject to certain conditions and until 21 December 2011, the Minister for Community Services would have sole parental responsibility for the child. During this period, the child was to reside with her foster parents, B and P, with provisions for residence with the mother if the foster placement broke down. The court also detailed specific arrangements for the child to spend time with both her mother and father. Crucially, the mother was ordered to enrol in and attend anger management, parenting, and domestic violence support programs, with assistance requested for her to access a specific program. From 21 December 2011, the mother was to have sole parental responsibility and the child was to reside with her, with defined alternate Saturday time with the father. Further orders addressed communication protocols, gifts, school reports, health issues, and restrictions on attending sex industry premises. The court also made provisions for the child to spend time with her foster parents after 21 December 2011, if requested, and requested the Minister to assist in facilitating these arrangements.