Bellus and Bellus and Anor

The proceedings involved the husband and wife, with the second respondent being F Pty Ltd. The dispute concerned the division of property and the management of various assets, including plant and equipment, boats, and bank accounts, as well as outstanding tax liabilities. The matter came before Berman J.

The court was required to determine a range of issues relating to the preservation and division of the parties' assets and liabilities. These included the proper handling of funds held by the husband's solicitors, the valuation of specific plant and equipment, the removal or indemnification for storage costs of plant and equipment, the sale of a "Small Boat," the disclosure of sales contracts for a "Large Boat," and the restraint on dealing with certain plant and equipment. Additionally, the court needed to address the provision of bank account statements, the completion of financial documents and tax returns, and the payment of outstanding tax liabilities for F Pty Ltd and a partial property settlement to the wife.

Berman J made a series of orders aimed at resolving these issues. The court directed that funds held by the husband's solicitors be paid towards valuation costs. Specific instructions were given for the joint instruction of a valuer for plant and equipment, with provisions for facilitating access to such equipment. The husband was required to either indemnify the wife for future storage charges or remove the plant and equipment from B Pty Ltd's premises. Orders were also made for the sale of the "Small Boat" and the disclosure of sales documents for the "Large Boat." Injunctions were granted to restrain the disposal of certain plant and equipment and an Aldi motor vehicle. The parties were ordered to provide bank statements and the husband was directed to instruct an accountant to complete financial documents and tax returns. Finally, specific payments were to be made from a joint bank account, including to the Australian Taxation Office for F Pty Ltd's tax liability and to the wife's solicitors for partial property settlement.