Weston and Hill

Rees J of the Family Court of Australia made orders concerning the living arrangements and time spent with a child, B, born in 2014. The dispute involved the parents' arrangements for the child, with the court vacating previous orders and establishing new provisions for the child's residence and contact with both parents.

The court was required to determine the primary residence of the child, the father's time with the child, and the financial responsibilities associated with facilitating that time. Additionally, the court needed to establish communication protocols between the parents and the child, and outline the consequences of contravening the orders made.

Rees J ordered that the child live with the mother and be permitted to reside with her in Sydney. The father was granted specific periods of time with the child, alternating between Melbourne and Sydney, with detailed arrangements for the duration and timing of these periods. The court also stipulated financial arrangements, including the father covering the costs of flights and transport for the mother and child to Melbourne, while the mother would bear her own accommodation costs in Melbourne. The father was to pay his own travel and accommodation costs for time spent in Sydney. Provisions were also made for daily Skype contact for the father and for the mother to contact the child via telephone or Skype when the child was with the father. The orders also included requirements for parents to keep each other informed of contact details and any significant health issues concerning the child, and a fact sheet detailing the obligations and consequences of contravention was attached to the orders.