Children – father’s loss of confidence in family report writer insufficient to support his application to appoint a new expert

In Behrendt & Cadenet (No.2) [2021] FamCA 19 (29 January 2021) Harper J dismissed a father’s interim application in a parenting case for the appointment of a new family report writer in respect of a 10-year-old child, where the family report writer, Dr B, referred in an interim report to the mother’s allegation that she had in her possession a large amount of pornography downloaded by the father which, when appraised, might become a finding of paraphilia on the father’s part ([3]).

A USB stick of “about 500 professionally shot stack static images of young attractive women” and “pornographic digital movies” was provided to Dr B who recommended that reports be obtained from an IT expert (as to viewing patterns) and a paraphilia expert ([5]-[6]).

The court said (from [16]):

“The father … argued that the USB materials have negligible probative value. …

[17] … [T]he father contended that the material Dr B had … seen may have contaminated his opinion … he may … have prejudged factual issues such as the ownership of the pornographic material and the nature of the father’s viewing patterns (…)

[20] I reject the argument based on the assertion that the USB materials have negligible probative value. … [I]t is not possible or appropriate to attempt to form any view about the probative value of the USB materials at this point. ( … )

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[21] … Although the father disavowed any reliance upon apprehended bias, it seems to me that that is … what lies behind his assertions of loss of confidence in Dr B. …

[22] … The … fact that [Dr B] … considered that further expert evidence was necessary demonstrates that he himself was not offering any opinion about the father’s habit of viewing material (…)

[26] I accept the submission of Counsel for the mother that if loss of confidence alone was a broadly applicable criterion for discharge of a single expert, such discharges would be happening on a regular basis. (…).

Craig Nicol is the editor of The Family Law Book and Keleigh Robinson is the co-editor. Both are Accredited Specialists in family law (Queensland and Victoria, respectively). The Family Law Book is a one-volume loose-leaf and online family law service (thefamilylawbook.com.au).