Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Provide Nominees Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 1137

Federal Court of Australia

Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Provide Nominees Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 1137 File number(s): VID 712 of 2022

Judgment of: O'BRYAN J

Date of judgment: 25 September 2023

Catchwords: CORPORATIONS – application made by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) under s 70(3) of the Australian Securities and Investments Act 2001 (Cth) (ASIC Act) – alleged failure to comply with notice issued pursuant to s 33(1) of the ASIC Act – whether ASIC has fulfilled the precondition in s 70(2) of the ASIC Act requiring ASIC to certify in writing the failure to comply – whether the Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine the application – whether ASIC has shown that there has been a failure by the defendant to comply with the notice without reasonable excuse – whether the Court has power to make an order requiring the making of an affidavit regarding compliance with the notice – order for compliance made STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – meaning of the phrases "by writing certify" and "failure to comply" in s 70(2) of the Act – scope of power conferred on the Court by s 70(3) to make orders for, and relating to, compliance with a requirement made under Pt 3 of the ASIC Act

Legislation: Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth), ss 25, 25C Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth), ss 5(2)(b), Pt 2, ss 12DA, 12DB, 12DF, Subdiv G, Div 2, 12GJ, Pt 3, ss 13, 33, Div 7, ss 63(1), 63(5), 70(1), 70(2), 70(3), Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 9, 86, 588FF(1), 1041E, 1041F, 1041H, 1337B Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)

Cases cited: Aurora Construction Materials Pty Ltd v Victorian WorkCover Authority [2017] VSC 573 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (2018) 262 CLR 157 Australian Securities and Investment Commission v Maxi EFX Global AU Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 1263; 148 ACSR 123 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Ignite Financial Systems & Research Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 1101 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Pappas [2006] FCA 1785 Australian Securities Commission v Kutzner (1997) 25 ACSR 723 Australian Securities Commission v Zarro (1991) 32 FCR 546 Bray v F Hoffman-La Roche Ltd (2002) 118 FCR 1 Civil Air Operations Officers Association of Australia v Airservices Australia [2020] FCA 1665 Federated Engine-Drivers and Firemen's Association of Australasia v Broken Hill Proprietary Co Limited (1911) 12 CLR 398 Fenton v Hampton (1858) 11 Moo PCC 347; 14 ER 727 Grant Samuel Corporate Finance Pty Ltd v Fletcher (2015) 254 CLR 477 Grassby v The Queen (1989) 168 CLR 1 Hazeldell Limited v The Commonwealth (1924) 34 CLR 442 Insurance and Superannuation Commissioner v Glaser (1997) 79 FCR 505 Khatri v Price (1999) 95 FCR 287 MacDonald v Australia Securities Commission (No 2) (1994) 48 FCR 210 Maxi EFX Global AU Pty Ltd v Australian Securities and Investments Commission (2021) 284 FCR 643 Melbourne Home of Ford Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (No 3) (1980) 31 ALR 519 Old UGC Inc v Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales (2006) 225 CLR 274 Parsons v Martin (1984) 5 FCR 235 Pelechowski v Registrar, Court of Appeal (NSW) (1999) 198 CLR 435 SunshineLoans Pty Ltd v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2023] FCA 707 Thomson Australian Holdings Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1981) 148 CLR 150 Transport Workers Union (NSW) v Australian Industrial Relations Commission (2008) 166 FCR 108 Trolly, Draymen and Carters Union of Sydney and Suburbs v Master Carriers Association (NSW) (1905) 2 CLR 509 Zhang v Zemin (2010) 79 NSWLR 513