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Queensland Supreme Court considers “unconventional” forms of security for costs and whether expert reports are privileged and not required to be disclosed

The case of Murphy v Gladstone Ports Corporation Ltd [2019] QSC 12 (Murphy v Gladstone Ports) examines whether: A deed of indemnity issued by a foreign company, coupled with the payment of money into Court for the purposes of enforcing the deed of indemnity in the foreign jurisdiction, is sufficient security for the purposes of […]

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Concurrent appointments and priority creditors – who may distribute pursuant to section 561 of the Corporations Act?

In Kirman v RWE Robinson & Sons Pty Ltd (in liq), in the matter of RWE Robinson and Sons Pty Ltd (in liq) [2019] FCA 372, the Court helpfully clarifies who is entitled to make payments to priority creditors in scenarios where receivers and liquidators are concurrently appointed.   Background RWE Robinson & Sons Pty Ltd […]

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Red card for borrower claiming application fee as penalty

With the recent lending slowdown in the Australian banking sector, lead by the Banking Royal Commission, tougher lending standards and tighter serviceability requirements, demand for alternative non-bank lenders continues to increase. It is common for a non-bank lender’s lending terms to include an up-front arrangement or origination fee in respect of the establishment of the […]

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Culture-related Regulatory Enforcement: Where might the Australian ‘BEAR’ go hunting?

This two-part briefing has been prepared for in-house legal, risk and compliance professionals in financial services firms, including insurance and superannuation entities. Part one of this briefing covers the following matters: Introduction to the “Banking Executive Accountability Regime” (BEAR) What is required under the regime and penalties for individuals and companies BEAR’s imminent expansion to […]

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ASIC appeals Westpac’s success in the responsible consumer lending test case

In Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Westpac Banking Corporation (Liability Trial) [2019] FCA 1244, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has brought a ‘test case’ considering alleged breaches of responsible lending obligations against Westpac Banking Corporation (Westpac). In particular, ASIC alleged Westpac breached the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (Cth) (the Act) through the use of its […]

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Lender’s minor omissions have major impact in summary judgment application

In Secure Funding v West [2017] QDC 169, the District Court of Queensland provides a helpful reminder of the importance of complying with contractual and legislative notice requirements.  As this case demonstrates, it is important for lenders to be able to demonstrate service of default notices so as to avoid minor omissions which can be costly.   […]

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Marshalling – what is it and how can it help a second registered mortgagee?

Marshalling is an equitable doctrine designed to protect second registered mortgagees from not being paid because of the arbitrary or capricious realisation of a security property by a prior mortgagee. In certain circumstances, a second registered mortgagee may be able to access surplus proceeds of sale from a property which it did not hold a mortgage […]

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The Victorian State Government’s Building Amendment (Cladding Rectification) Bill 2019 passes Parliament.

On 12 November 2019 the Building Amendment (Cladding Rectification) Bill 2019 passed State Parliament and the Building Amendment (Cladding Rectification) Act 2019 (new Act) has now received Royal Assent. The new Act enacts the State Government’s consumer focused ‘rescue package’ in relation to the funding of ‘cladding rectification work’[1] associated with ‘non-compliant or non-conforming external […]

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Termination of construction contracts – the issue of good faith

Bundanoon Sandstone Pty Ltd v Cenric Group Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 87 (30 April 2019) (Meagher, Gleeson and McCallum JJA).   Issue and Outcome  The NSW Court of Appeal held that a show cause notice issued by a principal under a construction contract was not issued in good faith (because it was redolent of bad […]

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Fairness in Franchising – Franchising Taskforce Releases Regulation Impact Statement

Following on from the Issues Paper issued by the Franchising Taskforce in August, the Franchising Taskforce released a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) on 11 November, which will assist the Franchising Taskforce in making recommendations to Government regarding reforms to the franchising sector. The Taskforce and is inviting submissions by 6 December 2019. The Franchising Taskforce […]

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Service of a creditor’s statutory demand – the importance of serving at the registered office maintained by ASIC

The recent decision of Mills Oakley v Asset HQ Australia Pty Ltd [2019] VSC 98 highlights the need for strict compliance when serving a creditor’s statutory demand on the registered office of a company. The Court considered whether a creditor’s statutory demand, with an error in the registered address of the company, was served in accordance with […]

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Liquidator’s application to obtain greater role in managed investment scheme winding up

In LM Investment Management Limited v Whyte [2019] QSC 233, the Supreme Court of Queensland considered an application by a Liquidator to: replace the court-appointed Receiver in the winding up of a managed investment scheme as well as for a complex remuneration and costs regime to be put in place; and to access the scheme property in […]

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