Watkins and Watkins

This matter concerned parenting orders made by Judge Willis in relation to the child X. The dispute revolved around the arrangements for the child's living arrangements, time spent with each parent, holiday arrangements, special occasions, communication between parents, and international travel.

The court was required to determine the specific orders concerning parental responsibility, the child's primary residence, and the schedule for the child's time with each parent, including regular weekday and weekend time, school holidays, and special occasions such as birthdays and public holidays. Further issues included the method of communication between the parents regarding the child and the circumstances under which the child could be removed from Australia.

The court ordered that the parties have equal shared parental responsibility for the child, with each parent having sole responsibility for day-to-day decisions while the child is in their care. The child was ordered to live with the mother, and specific provisions were made for the child to spend time with the father on alternate Wednesdays and for defined periods during school holidays, including Christmas and Easter. The orders also stipulated arrangements for the child's birthday, parents' birthdays, Father's Day, and Mother's Day. Injunctions were granted restraining the removal of the child from Australia, with a request for the Australian Federal Police to place the child on the Family Law Watchlist. The Independent Children's Lawyer was discharged.