Rothmore Farms Pty Ltd (in liq) v Belgravia Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 598

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Rothmore Farms Pty Ltd (in liq) v Belgravia Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 598 CORPORATIONS LAW – whether proceedings under s 565(1) constitute proceedings under s 121 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth). BANKRUPTCY – whether proceedings under s 565(1) Corporations Law are proceedings under the Bankruptcy Act within s 81(17) of that Act – whether provisional liquidator of a company was in reality suing as trustee for bankrupt estates and hence bringing proceedings under the Bankruptcy Act. EVIDENCE – examination under s 81 Bankruptcy Act – tender transcript as evidence – whether transcript admissible in proceedings that are not proceedings under the Bankruptcy Act having regard to s 81(17) of that Act. EVIDENCE – examination under s 81 Bankruptcy Act – whether evidence of admissions against interest made during examination is admissible in proceedings that are not proceedings under the Bankruptcy Act – whether s 81(1) of the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) permits admission of that evidence – whether s 81(17) of the Bankruptcy Act prevents admission of that evidence. WORDS AND PHRASES – meaning of "proceedings under this Act".

Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment Act 1996 (Cth) Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) ss 81, 81(17), 121 and 255(2) Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904 (Cth) s 197A Corporations Law ss 565(1), 597(14) and 1322, Pt 5.7B and Pt 5.9 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 8(1), 37, 37(1)(c), 81(1), 83, 85(2), 86, 90, 135(a), 137, Dictionary Pt 2, cl 2 Industrial Relations Act 1988 (Cth) s 347(1) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Law of Property Act 1936 (SA) s 86 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth)

Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd v Donnelly as Trustee of the Bankrupt Estate of Morris (1998) 82 FCR 418 applied Bostik (Australia) Pty Ltd v Gorgevski (No 2) (1992) 36 FCR 439 considered Douglas-Brown (Official liquidator of Woomera Holdings Pty Ltd) v Furzer (1994) 13 ACSR 184 considered Fencott v Muller (1983) 152 CLR 570 considered Gardner v Duve (1978) 19 ALR 695 considered Grace Bros Pty Ltd v Magistrates of the Local Courts of New South Wales (1989) 23 FCR 68 applied Gregg v Tasmanian Trustees Ltd (1997) 73 FCR 91 considered Hoad v Swan (1920) 28 CLR 258 considered Jack v Smail (1905) 2 CLR 684 considered Karounos v Official Trustee (1988) 19 FCR 330 considered Poulos v Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd (1986) 68 ALR 537 considered Pritchard v Racecage Pty Ltd (1997) 72 FCR 203 considered R v Swaffield (1998) 151 ALR 98 considered Re Hugh J Roberts Pty Ltd (In Liquidator) [1970] 2 NSWR 582 considered Re Schofield; ex parte Rangott v P & B Barron Pty Ltd (1997) 72 FCR 280 applied Sammy Russo Supplies Pty Ltd v Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd (1998) ATPR 41-641 considered Sipad Holding ddpo v Popovic (1995) 61 FCR 205 applied Stateliner Pty Ltd v Legal & General Assurance Society Ltd (1981) 29 SASR 16 considered Talbot v NRMA Holdings Ltd (1996) 68 FCR 590 applied Truth About Motorways Pty Ltd v Macquarie Infrastructure Investment Management Ltd (1998) ATPR 41-633 considered