Trent and Trent (No. 2)

This matter concerned orders made by Rees J in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia regarding the parenting arrangements for three children. The dispute involved the father seeking orders for time with the children, and the court was required to determine the specific terms of these arrangements, including handover procedures, communication between parents, and medical decision-making for the children.

The court was tasked with establishing a schedule for the father's time with the children, which included alternate weekend arrangements and mid-week overnight stays. Further issues before the court included the method of handover of the children between parents, restrictions on the presence of other family members during handovers, and provisions for telephone contact. The court also had to address the medical care of the children, including the designated medical practice for consultations, the exchange of medical information between parents, and restrictions on seeking medical treatment elsewhere without consent.

Rees J made detailed orders concerning the children's time with the father, specifying commencement and conclusion times and locations for handovers. The court also imposed obligations on each parent to facilitate communication and to ensure that other family members were not present during handovers or at school functions. Crucially, the court established a framework for the children's medical care, designating a specific medical practice and requiring the sharing of medical information between parents, with a restraint on seeking alternative medical opinions without consent. The court also ordered the delivery of the children's Blue Books to the mother and listed the matter for further mention to facilitate the finalisation of hearing dates, contingent on the availability of a report from Dr E and the filing of affidavit material.