Turner and Brown

This case, heard in the Family Court of Australia, concerned final parenting arrangements for three children. The dispute involved numerous allegations of sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse made by both parents against each other, and the parties had been engaged in litigation since 2009. The applicant was Mr Turner and the respondent was Ms Brown.

The court was required to determine whether proposed consent minutes, signed by the parties during the trial, were in the best interests of the children and whether the presumption of equal shared responsibility under section 61DA of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) should be rebutted. The court also considered the undertakings provided by each parent, including the mother's withdrawal of abuse allegations and the parties' agreement on how to discuss the proceedings with the children.

The court made orders by consent, discharging all previous parenting orders. The Independent Children's Lawyer's appointment was extended, and funding was requested. The final orders, detailed in Exhibit "A", stipulated that the father would have sole parental responsibility for educational and medical issues, and the children would live with the father. Specific arrangements were set out for the children's time with the mother, including alternate weekends, telephone contact, and shared holiday periods. The court also imposed restraints on both parents regarding discussing the proceedings with the children, engaging in denigrating conduct on social media, and changing the children's names. Provisions were made for each parent to attend school and medical appointments, and for notification of address changes and serious medical issues. The court also ordered that the father ensure one child attends counselling and restrained both parents from bringing the children into contact with a Ms A. All other extant applications were dismissed.