[2025] FedCFamC2F 837
General information, not legal advice.
Federal Circuit and Family Court (Div 2)
2025-06-20
Original judgment source is linked above.
FEDERAL CIRCUIT AND FAMILY COURT OF AUSTRALIA (DIVISION 2)
(a) the Mother shall do all things necessary to cause the primary residence of each of the children X born in 2014, Y born in 2017 and Z born in 2022 (collectively "the children") to be re-established in the Suburb C Local Government Area (LGA); and
(b) each of the Mother and the Father shall do all things and sign all documents necessary so as to cause and permit the children X and Y to resume attendance at D School, Suburb C from the commencement of Term 3 2025 and to remain enrolled and in attendance at such school pending further order.
(a) from the conclusion of school on Friday 20 June 2025 until 5.00pm Sunday 22 June 2025; and
(b) on each Tuesday from the conclusion of school (or 3.00pm in respect of any child not in attendance at school on such day) until 5.00pm; and
(c) subject to order 6 herein, from the conclusion of school on Friday 4 July 2025 until 4.00pm on Friday 11 July 2025, it being noted that the children conclude Term 2 of school on Friday 4 July 2025;
with changeover to occur at school when the children (or any of them) are in attendance at school at the commencement of any period of time and otherwise at McDonalds, Suburb E.
(a) on the first weekend following the resumption of school and each alternate weekend thereafter, from 9.00am Sunday to the conclusion of school (or 3.00pm in respect of any child not in attendance at school on such day) Tuesday; and
(b) immediately following the second weekend after the resumption of school and each alternate week thereafter from the commencement of school (or 9.00am in respect of any child not in attendance at school on such day) Monday to the conclusion of school (or 3.00pm in respect of any child not in attendance at school on such day) Wednesday.
(a) during the school holidays:
(i) subject to order 6 herein, for one half of each school holiday period following terms 1, 2 and 3 as agreed or in the absence of agreement, during the first half of the school holiday period in odd numbered years and the second half of the school holiday period in event numbered years; and
(ii) during the school holiday period following term 4 as agreed or in the absence of agreement, each alternate week with changeover to commence at 10.00am each Sunday;
and shall otherwise live with the Mother during the school holiday periods;
(b) in 2026 and each alternate year thereafter from 3.00pm Christmas Eve until 3.00pm Christmas Day and in 2025 and each alternate year thereafter from 3.00pm Christmas Day until 3.00pm Boxing Day PROVIDED THAT the children shall live with the mother in 2025 and each alternate year thereafter from 3.00pm Christmas Eve until 3.00pm Christmas Day and in 2026 and each alternate year thereafter, from 3.00pm Christmas Day until 3.00pm Boxing Day;
(c) from 3.00pm on the day immediately prior to Father's Day until the commencement of school (or 9.00am in respect of any child not in attendance at school on such day) Monday PROVIDED THAT the children shall live with the Mother from 3.00pm on the day immediately prior to Mother's Day until the commencement of school (or 9.00am in respect of any child not in attendance at school on such day) Monday; and
(d) at such other times as may be agreed between the parties in writing.
(a) the F Program NSW-ACT through G Centre; and
(b) a counselling service at a place local to the children in accordance with the recommendation of Ms H.
Note: The form of the order is subject to the entry in the Court's records.
Note: This copy of the Court's Reasons for judgment may be subject to review to remedy minor typographical or grammatical errors (r 10.14(b) Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021 (Cth)), or to record a variation to the order pursuant to r 10.13 Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021 (Cth).
Part XIVB of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) makes it an offence, except in very limited circumstances, to publish an account of proceedings that identify persons, associated persons, or witnesses involved in family law proceedings.
IT IS NOTED that publication of this judgment by this Court under a pseudonym has been approved pursuant to subsection 114Q(2) of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth).
(1) his affidavit filed 29 April 2025;
(2) his case outline filed 12 June 2025; and
(3) the report of Ms H dated 2 June 2025.
(1) her application for review filed 2 April 2025;
(2) her affidavit filed 22 April 2025;
(3) the affidavit of Mr K filed 22 April 2025;
(4) the affidavit of Ms L filed 22 April 2025;
(5) the affidavit of Ms M filed 22 April 2025;
(6) her case outline filed 23 April 2025; and
(7) her notice of child abuse, family violence or risk filed 10 March 2025.
Relocation cases are not a separate category within the Family Law Act... each is a case under Part VII relating to the best interests of the children are within a particular context and... is to be determined in accordance with the principles contained in that Part1
[emphasis added]
(a) what arrangements would promote the safety (including safety from being subjected to, or exposed to, family violence, abuse, neglect, or other harm) of:
(i) the child; and
(ii) each person who has care of the child (whether or not a person has parental responsibility for the child);
(b) any views[3] expressed by the child;
(c) the developmental, psychological, emotional and cultural needs of the child;
(d) the capacity of each person who has or is proposed to have parental responsibility for the child to provide for the child's developmental, psychological, emotional and cultural needs;
(e) the benefit to the child of being able to have a relationship with the child's parents, and other people who are significant to the child, where it is safe to do so;
(f) anything else that is relevant to the particular circumstances of the child.
Safety of the children and the children's caregivers
Benefit of the children having a relationship with their parents and other significant people
144. Thirdly, a statutory instruction to treat the welfare or best interests of the child as the paramount consideration does not oblige a court, making the decision, to ignore the legitimate interests and desires of the parents. If there is conflict between these considerations, priority must be accorded to the child's welfare and rights. However, the latter cannot be viewed in the abstract, separate from the circumstances of the parent with whom the child resides. If it were otherwise, a universal rule would be established whereby the custodial or residence parent (usually the mother) would virtually always be obliged to reside in close proximity to the other parent (usually the father) so as to facilitate contact between the latter and the child. There is no such universal rule.
145. Fourthly, the applicable legislation is enacted, and the relevant discretions exercised, for a society which attaches high importance to freedom of movement and the right of adults to decide where they will live. That is doubtless why courts have expressed themselves as reluctant to make orders which interfere in the freedom of custodial (or residence) parents to reside with the child where they wish, at least where such parent is the unchallenged custodian or has been designated the sole guardian of the child. One of the objects of modem family law statutes (including FLA 1975 and FCA 1975) is to enable parties to a broken relationship to start a new life for themselves, to control their own future destinies and, where desired, to form new relationships, free from unnecessary interference from a former spouse or partner or from a court. Courts recognise that unwarranted interference in the life of a custodial parent may itself occasion bitterness towards the former spouse or partner which may be transmitted to the child or otherwise impinge on the happiness of the custodial (or residence) parent in a way likely to affect the welfare or best interests of the child. This said, the touchstone for the ultimate decision must remain the welfare or best interests of the child and not, as such, the wishes and interests of the parents. To the extent that earlier authority may have suggested the contrary, it has now, properly, been rejected.
In Banks v Banks [2015] FamCAFC 36; (2015) FLC 93-637 at [47]-[50], the Full Court observed how a paucity of uncontested evidence means only limited consideration may be given to the factors prescribed by s 60CC of the Act. Interim disputes should be confined to only those issues which, in the best interests of the child, require determination prior to a proper determination at trial. The trial is the time and place to settle factual controversies. Interim hearings ought not be used for that purpose unless circumstances are urgent and there is no alternative.
(Emphasis added)
...it highly desirable that, except in cases of emergency, the arrangements which will be in the child's best interests should not be determined in an abridged interim hearing.
Whether time should end on Sunday at 5.00pm or 7.00pm
I certify that the preceding sixty-five (65) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment of Judge Jenkins.
[1] Mother's affidavit filed 22 April 2025 ("Mother's affidavit") at [30].
[2] see Franklyn & Franklyn [2019] FamCAFC 256 and SS v AH [2010] FamCAFC 13.
[3] By virtue of section 60CE of the Act, nothing in Part VII permits the court or any person to require the child to express his or her views in relation to any matter.
[6] Child Impact Report by Ms H ("CIR") at [35].
[10] Father's tender bundle at [172].
[14] Father's tender bundle at [158] and [159].
[18] Mother's affidavit filed 10 March 2025 at [97].
[19] Case Outline of the mother filed 23 April 2025 at Part C.
AMS
AIF
(1999) 199 CLR 160
(2007) 38 FamLR 275