Wainter Pty Ltd, in the matter of New Tel Limited (in liq) ACN 009 068 955 [2005] FCAFC 114

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Wainter Pty Ltd, in the matter of New Tel Limited (in liq) ACN 009 068 955 [2005] FCAFC 114

CORPORATIONS LAW – appeals against orders of a Federal Court Judge allowing orders for the issue of summonses for examination – history and purpose of provisions empowering a Court to summon a person for examination about a corporation's examinable affairs – whether examination sought for an improper purpose – whether purpose of examination was to benefit the corporation, its contributories or creditors. Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 9, 53, 53(1)(a), 53AA, 64B, 436A, 436B, 436C, 436E, 436E(4), 437A, 438A, 439A(1), 439C, 444D, 444E, 445C, 472(4), 596A, 596B, 596C, 596D, 596F(1)(c), 596F(1)(d), 596F(1)(e), 596F(1)(f), 597, 597(4), 597(5A), 597(12), 597 (12A), 597(13), 597(14), 597(14A), 1041H, 1041I Federal Court (Corporations) Rules 2000 (Cth), r 11.5 Companies Act 1862 (UK) Companies Act 1961 (WA) Companies Act 1981 (Cth) Companies (Application of Laws) Act 1981 (WA) Companies (Western Australia) Code Corporations Bill 1988 (Cth) Corporations Act 1989 (Cth) Corporations Legislation Amendment Act 1990 (Cth) Australian Securities Commission Act 1989 (Cth) Corporations (Western Australia) Act 1990 (WA) Corporate Law Reform Act 1992 (Cth) Corporations Law, ss 9, 53, 436(1), 439(1), 442(1), 448(1)(a), 448(1)(b), 541, 597 Commonwealth Constitution, s 51(xxxvii) Corporations (Commonwealth Powers) Act 2001 (WA) Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth), s 1(2) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Fair Trading Act 1987 (WA) Companies (New South Wales) Code, s 541 Explanatory Memorandum to the Corporate Law Reform Act 1992 (Cth) Re Wakim; Ex parte McNally & Another (1999) 198 CLR 511 cited R v Hughes (2000) 202 CLR 535 cited Re GPI Leisure Corp Ltd (1994) 12 ACLC 1049 cited Douglas-Brown v Furzer (1994) 13 ACSR 184 not followed Simionato and Farrugia v Macks and Macks (1996) 19 ACSR 34 cited Grosvenor Hill (Queensland) Pty Ltd v Barber (1994) 120 ALR 262 cited Spedley Securities v Bank of New Zealand (1990) 3 ACSR 366 cited Gerah Imports Pty Ltd v The Duke Group Ltd (in liq) (1993) 12 ACSR 513 cited Re Hugh J. Roberts Pty Ltd (in liq) (1970) 2 NSWLR 582 cited Hamilton v Oades (1989) 166 CLR 486 discussed Hill v Smithfield Service Centre Pty Ltd (in liq) (2003) 196 ALR 246 cited Carter v Gartner (2003) 46 ACSR 264 cited Flanders v Beatty (1995) 16 ACSR 324 cited Friedrich v Herald and Weekly Times Ltd (1990) VR 995 cited Gould v Brown (1998) 193 CLR 346 cited Southern Cross Petroleum Sales (SA) Pty Ltd (in liq) v Hirsch and Another (1998) 70 SASR 527 applied Re Excel Finance Corporation Ltd; Worthley v England (1994) 52 FCR 69 applied Re Laurie Cottier Productions Pty Ltd (in liq) (1992) 9 ACSR 513 cited Sandhurst Trustees Ltd v Harvey and Others (2004) 88 SASR 519 followed In Re New Cap Reinsurance Corporation Holdings Ltd [2001] NSWSC 835 applied New Zealand Steel (Australia) Pty Ltd v Burton (1994) 13 ACSR 610 considered IN THE MATTER OF NEW TEL LIMITED (IN LIQUIDATION) ACN 009 068 955 PAUL DOMINIC EVANS AND DAVID WOOLFE v WAINTER PTY LTD ACN 008 725 586 WAD 194 of 2004 PETER FRANCIS MALONE v WAINTER PTY LTD ACN 008 725 586 WAD 228 of 2004 RYAN, LANDER AND CRENNAN JJ 15 JUNE 2005 BRISBANE (HEARD IN PERTH)