BRISBANE - The mother of four girls caught up in an international custody dispute can't say if her relatives will front court to reveal the children's whereabouts.
The woman says she doesn't know if the girls' maternal grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt will comply with an order to answer questions under oath in a Brisbane court on Friday.
The girls, aged nine, 10, 13 and 14, went into hiding with a relative after they were ordered to return to Italy with their father to resolve the custody dispute.
Their location remains unknown, and the mother insists she does not know where they are.
The girls' great-grandmother has previously told reporters she is hiding the children and won't comply with the order to attend court.
"I'm not sure what is going to happen today," the mother told the Nine Network on Friday morning.
She said she had not had any contact with the girls' father, who has flown to Brisbane amid the custody dispute.
But she was considering seeking urgent mediation talks.
"I might try and contact his lawyers to see if it's possible to have a mediation today, this morning," the mother said.
"I hope he is open for it for the sake of the girls so this can stop and they can be left alone, and we can settle back down and get on with our lives."
She said she would apply on Friday for a stay on Family Court orders requiring the girls' return to Italy, and seek leave to appeal in the High Court.
In a call to the Seven Network, the woman asked Environment Minister Tony Burke and shadow treasurer Joe Hockey, who were appearing on Sunrise, to help her get legal aid.
But both urged her to obey the Family Court order.
The mother said she didn't know how much longer the girls could remain in hiding.
"It's very hard to be away from them, and I'm sure they're missing me," she said.
"If they can hear me, I want to say I love them very much and stay strong."