Winton and Dawson

This matter concerned an application before Hannam J in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, involving Ms Winton (the applicant paternal grandmother) and the respondent parent. The dispute centred on the arrangements for a child, with Ms Winton seeking to spend time with the child.

The court was required to determine the interim arrangements for the child's time with Ms Winton and to set a trial plan for the final resolution of the proceedings. Key issues included the suspension of previous orders for the child to spend time with Ms Winton, the procedure for allocating trial dates, and the filing and service of various documents by the parties and the Independent Children’s Lawyer.

Hannam J ordered that the previous order for the child to spend time with Ms Winton be suspended pending the final resolution of the matter. The court also established a detailed trial plan, including directions for the filing of consolidated affidavits, outlines of case, joint chronologies, and the procedure for cross-examination of the Family Report writer. The court emphasised the importance of compliance with these directions, noting that non-compliance could lead to the vacation of trial dates or the prioritisation of other matters. The parties were also directed to pay any applicable setting down and/or hearing fees equally.