Bankruptcy Rules (Amendment) (Cth)

Statutory Rules 1988 No. 2611

___________

Bankruptcy Rules2 (Amendment)

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 27 October 1988.

N. M. STEPHEN

Governor-General

By His Excellency’s Command,

N. BOLKUS

Minister of State for Consumer Affairs

_____________

Commencement

1. These Rules commence on 1 November 1988.

2. Rule 31a of the Bankruptcy Rules is repealed and the following rule substituted:

Copy of trustee’s report to be sent to Official Receiver

“31a. Where a registered trustee files a report with the Registrar in accordance with paragraph 19 (1) (c) of the Act, the registered trustee shall cause a copy of the report to be sent to the Official Receiver.”.

Scale of costs

3.Rule 162 of the Bankruptcy Rules is amended:

(a) by omitting from subrule (2) “$872” and substituting “$899”;

(b) by omitting from paragraph (2) (a) “$77” and substituting “$80”;

(c) by omitting from paragraph (2) (b) “$87” and substituting “$90”;

 

(d) by omitting from subrule (2a) “$750” and substituting “$774, and, if the petitioning creditor has been granted his or her costs of an adjournment of the proceeding, a further amount in respect of that adjournment:

(a) if counsel attended on the hearing when the proceeding was adjourned—of $80; or

(b) in any other case—$90.”.

Fees and percentages

4.Rule 179 of the Bankruptcy Rules is amended:

(a) by omitting from subrule (5) “trustee for distribution to the creditors, or the sum of the total amounts so received” and substituting “trustee, or the sum of the total amounts received”;

(b) by omitting from subrule (5) all words after “relates” and substituting “less:

(a) any amounts paid to secured creditors in respect of their securities before that date;

(b) any amounts paid by any trustee in carrying on the business of the bankrupt, deceased person or debtor; and

(c) the amount of any surplus to which the bankrupt is entitled by virtue of section 148 of the Act.”.

Schedule 3

5.Schedule 3 to the Bankruptcy Rules is repealed and the following Schedule substituted:

SCHEDULE 3 Rule 162

SCALE OF SOLICITORS’ COSTS

Item No.	Matters in connection with which costs are payable	Amount
$
Instructions
1	For bankruptcy notice, including application for issue of the notice..............................	40
2	For petition, including affidavit verifying petition, or to oppose petition (not including, where applicable, any special affidavit in support)............................................................	70
3	To make or oppose an application to the Court...................................................................	40
4	To make or oppose an application in Chambers or for an examination before the Registrar.....................................................................................................................................	40
5	For special affidavit.................................................................................................................	24
6	For case for opinion of counsel or for counsel to advise on evidence............................	50
7	For brief for counsel.................................................................................................................	70
8	For statement of affairs, including affidavit verifying.......................................................	90
9	For a necessary document not otherwise provided for.......................................................	24
Drawing
10	A necessary document (other than a document specified in item 11 or 12)—per folio.....................................................................................................................................................	4
11	A necessary document comprising a printed form—per folio not printed.....................	4

 

SCHEDULE 3—continued

Item No.	Matters in connection with which costs are payable	Amount
$
12	Those parts of a statement of affairs not printed:
(a) if 6 folios or fewer or if more than 6 folios—for first 6 folios...........................	26
(b) if more than 6 folios—for each folio or part of a folio in excess of 6 folios...	4
Copies
13	Carbon copy—per folio...........................................................................................................	1
14	Photographic or machine-made copy per page...................................................................	1
Engrossing
15	Of necessary documents for which no other provision is made per folio.......................	3
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:
(a) if 7 folios or fewer......................................................................................................	15
(b) if more than 7 folios per folio..................................................................................	3
17	Depositions, reports, exhibits, accounts, bills of costs, deeds or documents not otherwise provided for:
(a) if 15 folios or fewer....................................................................................................	15
(b) if more than 15 folios per folio................................................................................	1
Service
18	Personal service of any document of which personal service is required......................	24
or 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, such sum as is reasonable having regard to the time occupied, distance travelled and other relevant circumstances.
19	Service on a solicitor for a party............................................................................................	11
20	Service by post..........................................................................................................................	11
Attendances
21	On counsel:
(a) with a brief or other papers or to appoint consultation or conference or to mark refresher.....................................................................................................................	15
(b) on consultation or conference with counsel:
(i) if half an hour or less........................................................................................	40
(ii) if over half an hour—per hour or part of an hour	60
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.....................................................	90
(b) for each hour or part of an hour when likely to be heard but not heard	90
23	In a 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..............	80
(b) for each hour or part of an hour of the attendance when likely to be heard but not heard.....................................................................................................................	80

SCHEDULE 3—continued

Item No.	Matters in connection with which costs are payable	Amount
$
If a person other than a solicitor attends in place of a solicitor, the allowance shall not exceed two-thirds of the allowance of an attendance by a solicitor.
24	To hear reserved judgment.....................................................................................................	20
25	On taxation of costs:
(a) if a solicitor attends—per hour or part of an hour................................................	60
(b) if a clerk attends—per hour or part of an hour......................................................	15
26	At meeting of creditors or committee of creditors—per hour or part of an hour..........	80
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..........................................	15
28	To swear an affidavit or on deponent to be sworn..............................................................	15
29	Telephone attendance not exceeding 5 minutes..................................................................	7
30	Attendance not otherwise provided for:
(a) by a solicitor involving skill or legal knowledge—per quarter-hour or part of a quarter-hour...............................................................................................................	20
(b) by a solicitor not involving skill or legal knowledge or by a clerk—per quarter-hour or part of a quarter-hour.................................................................................	10
Letters, Circulars and Telegrams
31	Special letter..............................................................................................................................	21
32	Ordinary letter (including letters between principal and agent).......................................	12
33	Letter—formal acknowledgement.........................................................................................	7
34	Circular letter, after the first...................................................................................................	4
35	Telegram, including attendance to lodge.............................................................................	12

Transitional

6. (1) The provisions of subrule 162 (2) of the Bankruptcy Rules as in force immediately before the commencement of these Rules apply in relation to proceedings instituted before that commencement and not earlier than 12 October 1987 as if the amendments made by rule 3 had not been made.

(2) The provisions of Schedule 3 to the Bankruptcy Rules as in force immediately before the commencement of these Rules apply in relation to work done and services performed before that commencement and not earlier than 12 October 1987 as if the amendment made by rule 5 had not been made.

NOTES

1. Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 31 October 1988.

2. Statutory Rules 1968 No. 2 as amended to date. For previous amendments see Note 2 to Statutory Rules 1988 No. 19 and see also