Event and Time
Event Description
The case revolves around ongoing parenting disputes between Mr. Gounelle (the father) and Ms. Crozier (the mother) regarding their daughter X, who was born in 2011. The child was estranged from the mother due to her actions in withholding X and was living primarily with the father. Multiple court orders had been made concerning the custody and care of X, culminating in a final hearing in 2023, where a determination was made about the child’s living arrangements and parental responsibilities.
Application and Claims
- Father's Claims:
- Sole parental responsibility for X. - The right for X to live with him. - Communication between X and her mother should be limited and structured. - A request for the court to discharge all previous parenting orders.
- Mother's Claims:
- That X should live with her. - Requests for supervised visits and therapy with the Independent Children's Lawyer (ICL). - Time spent with her maternal grandmother.
- Maternal Grandmother's Claims:
- Weekly care and communication opportunities with X while in Australia.
- ICL's Claims:
- Sole parental responsibility for the father. - A focus on X’s wishes and welfare in the proposed arrangements.
Judicial Decisions
- All previous parenting orders relevant to X are discharged.
- The father is granted sole parental responsibility.
- X will live with her father and communicate with her mother in a controlled manner (letters and gifts).
- The mother is required to return any passports held in X's name to the father.
- The mother is restrained from interfering with X’s schooling or from denigrating the father to X.