Vane and Taggart

This matter concerned parenting orders made by Judge Mercuri in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia. The dispute involved the parents, Vane and Taggart, regarding the arrangements for their two children, X and Y.

The court was required to determine the specific terms of parental responsibility, the children's living arrangements, and the time the children would spend with each parent. This included establishing detailed schedules for school holidays, long weekends, and communication methods, as well as addressing the practicalities of travel and changeovers between parents. The court also considered orders related to parenting programs, the mother's literacy program, and injunctions to protect the children from parental conflict and exposure to illicit substances.

Judge Mercuri made orders for equal shared parental responsibility, with the children to live with the mother. The court then set out a comprehensive schedule for the children to spend time and communicate with the father, including provisions for agreed arrangements and default arrangements should agreement not be reached. These orders also stipulated that the costs of the children's travel would be shared equally. Further orders included requirements for the parties to attend parenting apart programs, injunctions restraining them from denigrating each other or discussing proceedings in the children's presence, and prohibitions on the use of illicit drugs when the children are in their care. The court also noted the provisions of section 65DA(2) of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) regarding contravention of orders and the availability of support services under section 62B of the Act.