Bankruptcy Rules (Amendment) (Cth)

Statutory Rules

1978 No. 19

RULES UNDER THE BANKRUPTCY ACT 1966

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I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Rules under the Bankruptcy Act 1966.

Dated this sixteenth day of February 1978.

ZELMAN COWEN

Governor-General

By His Excellency’s Command,

P. DURACK

Attorney-General

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AMENDMENTS OF THE BANKRUPTCY RULES

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Official receiver to make inquiries and furnish report on applicant

1. Rule 59 of the Bankruptcy Rules is amended by omitting from sub-rule (2) “the last preceding sub-rule” and substituting “sub-rule (1)”.

Affidavit in answer or in reply

2. Rule 107 of the Bankruptcy Rules is amended by omitting from paragraph (b) of sub-rule (2) “the last preceding rule “and substituting “rule 106”.

Office copies

3. Rule 117 of the Bankruptcy Rules is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (c) of sub-rule (1) “Schedule 3” and substituting “Schedule 4”; and

(b) by omitting from sub-rule (3) “Schedule 3” and substituting “Schedule 4”.

Conduct money and witnesses’ allowances

4. Rule 127 of the Bankruptcy Rules is amended by omitting from sub-rule (2) “of expenses in accordance with the scale of witnesses’ expenses contained in” and substituting “of allowances fixed by the Court, or, where he was summoned to appear before the Registrar, by the Registrar, in accordance with”.

Scale of costs

5. Rule 162 of the Bankruptcy Rules is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-rule (1) “commenced or instituted after the commencement of the Act”;

(b) by omitting from sub-rule (1) “Schedule 2” and substituting “Schedule 3”;

(c) by omitting from sub-rule (2) “$130” and substituting “$450”;

(d) by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-rule (2) “$13”and substituting “$40”; and

(e) by omitting from paragraph (b) of sub-rule (2) “$15” and substituting “$45”.

General provisions in connexion with drawing and perusing certain documents

6. Rule 165 of the Bankruptcy Rules is amended by omitting from sub-rule (2) “Item 10 and item 11 in Schedule 2” and substituting “Items 10, 11 and 12 in Schedule 3”.

Counsel’s fees

7. Rule 170 of the Bankruptcy Rules is amended by omitting from sub-rule (4) “and 19 in Schedule 2” and substituting “and 21 in Schedule 3”.

Taxing officer’s discretion

8. Rule 171 of the Bankruptcy Rules is amended by omitting “Schedule 2” from sub-rules (1) and (3) and substituting “Schedule 3”.

Fees and percentages

9. Rule 179 of the Bankruptcy Rules is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-rule (1) “Schedule 3” and substituting “Schedule 4”; and

(b) by omitting from sub-rule (2) “the next succeeding sub-rule” and substituting “sub-rule (3)”.

Fees and percentages payable to the official receiver

10. Rule 182 of the Bankruptcy Rules is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-rule (1) “Schedule 4” and substituting “Schedule 5”; and

(b) by omitting from, sub-rule (1a) “Schedule 5” and substituting “Schedule 6”.

Schedule 2

11. Schedule 2 to the Bankruptcy Rules is repealed and the following Schedules are substituted:

SCHEDULE 2 Sub-rule 127 (2)

WITNESSES’ ALLOWANCES FOR TRAVELLING AND OTHER EXPENSES

1. A witness appearing, because of his professional, scientific or other special skill or knowledge, before the Court or the Registrar shall be paid an allowance of not less than $45, or more than $225, for each day on which he so appears.

2. A witness, other than a witness referred to in Item 1, appearing before the Court or the Registrar shall be paid—

(a) if he is remunerated by wages, salary or fees—

(i) an allowance equal to the amount of wages, salary or fees lost by him by reason of his so appearing; or

(ii) an allowance of $50 for each day on which he so appears, whichever is the less; or

(b) if he is not so remunerated—an allowance of $25 for each day on which he so appears.

3. A witness appearing before the Court or the Registrar to give expert evidence shall be paid, in addition to any other allowance payable to him in accordance with item 1, such amount, if any, as the Court or Registrar, as the case may be, thinks reasonable to recompense him for any investigation necessarily carried out, or other work necessarily done, by him preparatory to giving that evidence.

4. A witness appearing before the Court or the Registrar to give evidence shall be paid a reasonable amount—

(a) in respect of his conveyance to and from the place at which he so attends; and

(b) if he is required to be absent overnight from his usual place of residence, for meals and accommodation.

             

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SCHEDULE 3 Rule 162

SCALE OF SOLICITORS’ COSTS

Item	Matters in connexion with which costs are payable	Amount
$
Instructions
1	For bankruptcy notice, including application for issue of the notice........................................	20.00
2	For petition, including affidavit verifying petition, or to oppose petition (not including, where applicable, any special affidavit in support)	35.00
3	To make or oppose an application to the Court............................................................................	20.00
4	To make or oppose an application in Chambers or for an examination before the Registrar..........................................................................................................................................................	20.00
5	For special affidavit...........................................................................................................................	12.00
6	For case for opinion of counsel or for counsel to advise on evidence......................................	25.00
7	For brief for counsel..........................................................................................................................	35.00
8	For statement of affairs, including affidavit verifying.................................................................	45.00
9	For a necessary document not otherwise provided for................................................................	12.00
Drawing
10	A necessary document (other than a document specified in item 11 or 12)—per folio.........
2.00
11	A necessary document comprising a printed: form—per folio not printed..............................	2.00
12	Those parts of a statement of affairs not printed—
If 6folios or less or, if more than 6 folios, for first 6 folios............................................... If more than 6 folios—for each folio or part of a folio in excess of 6 folios...................	13.00 2.00
Copies
13	Carbon copy—per folio....................................................................................................................	0.50
14	Photographic or machine made copy—per page..........................................................................	0.40
Engrossing
15	Of necessary documents for which no other provision is made—per folio.............................	1.00
Perusals
16	Petitions, affidavits, notices to produce or admit, applications to the Court or the Registrar, statements of facts, counsel’s opinion or advice or printed forms—
If 7 folios or less.........................................................................................................................	7.50
If more than 7 folios—per folio...............................................................................................	1.00
17	Depositions, reports, exhibits, accounts, bills of costs, deeds or documents not otherwise provided for—
If 15 folios or less.......................................................................................................................	7.50
If more than 15 folios—per folio............................................................................................	0.50
Service
18	Personal service of any document of which personal service is required If served by a solicitor at a distance of more than 5 kilometres from the nearest place of business or office of the solicitor serving the document, according to the time occupied and the fares paid.	12.00
19	Service on a solicitor for a party......................................................................................................	5.50
20	Service by post....................................................................................................................................	5.50
Attendances
21	On counsel—
(a) with a brief or other papers or to appoint consultation or conference or to mark refresher...............................................................................................................................	7.50
(b) on consultation or conference with counsel— If half an hour or less.........................................................................................................	20.00
If over half an hour—per hour or part of an hour.........................................................	30.00
22	In Court or Chambers or before the Registrar for a hearing without counsel—
(a) for each hour or part of an hour of the hearing...............................................................	45.00
(b) for each hour or part of an hour when likely to be heard but not heard.....................	45.00

SCHEDULE 3—continued

SCALE OF SOLICITORS’ COSTS

Item	Matters in connexion with which costs are payable	Amount
$
23	In Court or Chambers or before the Registrar for a hearing with counsel—
(a) for each hour or part of an hour of the attendance during the hearing...........................	40.00
(b) for each hour or part of an hour of the attendance when likely to be heard but not beard..................................................................................................................................................	40.00
If a person other than a solicitor attends in place of a solicitor, the allowance shall not exceedtwo-thirds of the allowance for an attendance by a solicitor.
24	To hear reserved judgment..................................................................................................................	10.00
25	On taxation of costs—
(a) if a solicitor attends—per hour or part of an hour.............................................................	30.00
(b) if a clerk attends—per hour or part of an hour...................................................................	7.50
26	At meeting of creditors or committee of creditors—per hour or part of an hour.......................	40.00
27	To file or deliver any documents or papers, to obtain an appointment, to insert advertisements, or other attendance of a similar nature that does not involve the exercise of skill or legal knowledge and is not otherwise provided for..............................................................................	7.50
28	To swear an affidavit or on deponent to be sworn...........................................................................	7.50
29	Telephone attendance not exceeding 5 minutes...............................................................................	3.50
30	Attendance not otherwise provided for—
(a) by a solicitor involving skill or legal knowledge—per quarter-hour or part of a quarter-hour..........................................................................................................................................	10.00
(b) by a solicitor not involving skill or legal knowledge or by a clerk—per quarter-hour or part of a quarter-hour.......................................................................................................	5.00
Letters, Circulars and Telegrams
31	Special letter...........................................................................................................................................	10.50
32	Ordinary letter (including letters between principal and agent)....................................................	6.00
33	Letter—formal acknowledgment........................................................................................................	3.50
34	Circular letter, after the first................................................................................................................	2.00
35	Telegram, including attendance to lodge..........................................................................................	6.00

Schedule 3

12. Schedule 3 to the Bankruptcy Rules is amended by omitting—

“SCHEDULE 3”,

and substituting—

“SCHEDULE 4”.

Schedule 4

13. Schedule 4 to the Bankruptcy Rules is amended by omitting—

“SCHEDULE 4”,

and substituting—

“SCHEDULE 5”.

Schedule 5

14. Schedule 5 to the Bankruptcy Rules is amended by omitting—

“SCHEDULE 5”.

and substituting—

“SCHEDULE 6”.

Application

15. (1) The amendments effected by rules 6, 7, 8 and 11 and by paragraphs 5 (a) and (b) apply to work done after the commencement of these Rules, being work in respect of which solicitors are entitled to charge and be allowed costs for the purposes of the Bankruptcy Act 1966.

(2) Work done before the commencement of these Rules, being work in respect of which solicitors are entitled to charge and be allowed costs for the purposes of the Bankruptcy Act 1966, shall be dealt with as if the amendments referred to in sub-rule (1) had not been made.

(3) The amendments effected by paragraphs 5 (c), (d) and (e) apply to proceedings instituted after the commencement of these Rules.

(4) Proceedings pending at the commencement of these Rules shall be dealt with as if the amendments referred to in sub-rule (3) had not been made.

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Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 21 February 1978.

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Statutory Rules 1968, No. 2 as amended by Statutory Rules 1975, No. 52; 1976, Nos. 105, 143 and 235, and 1977. Nos. 32 and 136.