What it means
A contravention application is filed when a person alleges that another party has breached a parenting (or other) order under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) without a reasonable excuse. The court considers whether a contravention occurred and how serious it was. Outcomes can range from no penalty (for example where there was a reasonable excuse), to varied orders, make-up time, attendance at a parenting program, costs, fines, or in serious cases, imprisonment. The court still keeps the child's best interests central and may encourage the parties to resolve the underlying conflict.
How it's used
After the other parent repeatedly refused weekend visits, he filed a contravention application asking the court to enforce the orders.