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Environment Protection Act 1997
91RHolding company of body corporate that is wound up
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91R Holding company of body corporate that is wound up
(1) The Supreme Court may order a corporation to comply with an
assessment order or remediation order at the corporation’s own
expense if the corporation was the holding company of a company
(a) has been wound up within 2 years before the court’s order is
(b) has failed to comply with the assessment order or remediation
order.
(2) The corporation must comply with the assessment order or
remediation order, subject to any modification by the Supreme Court.
(3) The Supreme Court may make an order under this section only if
satisfied, on an application by the authority, that—
(a) the corporation was the holding company of the other company
at the time when the assessment order or remediation order was
(b) there is reason to believe that the other company was wound up
as part of a scheme to avoid compliance with the assessment
order or remediation order.
(4) There is reason for belief of the kind mentioned in subsection (3) (b)
if—
(a) the corporation contravened the Corporations Act, section 588V
in relation to the other company; and
(b) there was (at the time or times when the contravention
happened) reason to believe that the land was contaminated; and
(c) if a regulation made for this section applies—the prescribed
conditions are satisfied.
(5) Despite subsection (4), there is reason for belief of the kind mentioned
in subsection (3) (b) also if—
(a) the other company carried out 1 or more transactions—
(i) that were voidable because of the Corporations Act,
section 588FE; or
(ii) that were such that the liquidator of the other company had
a right to recovery of cash under the Corporations Act,
section 567; or
(iii) by which the other company incurred a debt in relation to
which a person contravened the Corporations Act,
section 588G; and
(b) there was (at the time or times when the other company entered
those transactions or a substantial part of them) reason to believe
that the land was contaminated.
(6) The fact that the relevant assessment order or remediation order was
partially complied with by the other company does not exclude the
possibility that there is reason to form the belief mentioned in
subsection (3).
(7) For this section, the fact that steps are taken to wind up a company
before the authority makes an assessment order or remediation order
in relation to the company does not preclude the Supreme Court from
finding that there is reason to believe that the company was wound
up as part of a scheme to avoid compliance with the order.