White and Green and Ors

In the matter of *White and Green and Ors*, Justice Cronin of the Family Court of Australia considered a dispute concerning the welfare and location of a child born in March 2008. The proceedings involved the wife, the husband (Mr Green), and Mrs White (Snr), with the court issuing orders that directly impacted the child's living arrangements and the husband's obligations.

The central legal issues before the court revolved around the immediate care and location of the child, and the appropriate protective measures to be in place. Specifically, the court was required to determine with whom the child should live, whether the child should be returned to Australia, and the necessity of continuing or discharging existing injunctions. Furthermore, the court had to consider the child's right to independent representation and the procedural steps required to facilitate this.

Justice Cronin ordered that the child live with the wife and Mrs White (Snr) until further order, and that the husband, Mr Green, return the child to Australia forthwith. The court also discharged an injunction previously restraining Mr Green (Snr) and directed that the Australian Federal Police be notified of this discharge. Crucially, the court ordered that the child be separately represented pursuant to s 68L(2) of the *Family Law Act 1975*, requesting Victoria Legal Aid to arrange this representation. The court further stipulated that upon the child's return to Australia, parenting applications would be listed for an urgent interim hearing concerning the child's time with the husband and other ongoing care arrangements.