Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations v Monaghan (No 2) [2016] FCA 1143

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations v Monaghan (No 2) [2016] FCA 1143 File number: ACD 22 of 2015

Judge: GRIFFITHS J

Date of judgment: 20 September 2016

Catchwords: CORPORATIONS – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation – contraventions under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth) involving duties of directors and officers including duty of care and diligence, not to improperly use position to gain advantage or cause detriment and record keeping – civil penalty regime – multiple contraventions of civil penalty provisions – totality principle – whether to make declarations and orders for disqualification, compensation and/or pecuniary penalties – admissions by some respondents. Held: disqualification of five years imposed on first and second respondents and six months on third respondent – first and second respondents to pay pecuniary penalty of $38,500 and costs.

Legislation: Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976 (Cth), s 71 Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth), Chs 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Pts 6-4, 7-2, 7-3, ss 1-25, 1-30, 29-5, 57-1, 69-1, 180-1, 252-1, 252-1(1), 262-1, 265-1, 265-1(1), 265-1(2), 265-5, 265-10, 265-10(1), 279-15, 279-15(1), 279-15(2), 322-10, 363-1, 363-1(1), 386-1, 386-1(1), 386-1(2), 386-10, 386-10(1), 386-10(1)(b)(iii) 386-15(1), 386-20, 386-20(1), 386-25, 439-20, 453-1 Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Bill 2006 (Cth) Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Consequential, Transitional and Other Measures Act 2006 (Cth), Sch 3, Item 1(1) Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Regulations 2007 (Cth), reg 29-5.01 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 180(1), 181(1), 182, 203C, 206E, 1317E, 1317G, 1317H Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth)