The Tribunal affirmed the Legal Practice Board's decision to refuse renewal of the applicant's Australian practising certificate, finding he was not a fit and proper person to hold one. Deliberate and sustained obstruction of an externally appointed manager — including failing to provide access to client information, practice accounts, and management software, cancelling internet access, and breaching a solemn undertaking to cooperate — together with failure to comply with compulsory statutory notices under ss 95 and 371 of the Uniform Law, collectively demonstrated an unwillingness to cooperate with the regulatory authority and comply with the law. The Tribunal indicated that had the applicant demonstrated insight and remedied his non-compliance before the hearing, the outcome may have differed, underscoring that transitory unfitness may be cured by demonstrated willingness to adhere to professional obligations. Trust accounting deficiencies characterised by the Board's Senior Auditor as 'high impact behaviour' were not refuted by the applicant and contributed to the overall assessment, though the Tribunal declined to find dishonesty.
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