Relief from liability for contravention of civil penalty provision
565 Relief from liability for contravention of civil penalty provision
In this section—
eligible proceedings—
means proceedings for a contravention of a civil penalty provision, including—
proceedings under section 557 of this Law; and
proceedings under section 588M or 588W of the Corporations Act as applying under this Law (see section 451); and
does not include proceedings for an offence, except so far as the proceedings relate to the question whether the Supreme Court should make an order under—
section 557 of this Law; or
section 588K of the Corporations Act as applying under this Law (see section 451).
If—
eligible proceedings are brought against a person; and
in the proceedings it appears to the Supreme Court that the person has, or may have, contravened a civil penalty provision but that—
the person has acted honestly; and
having regard to all the circumstances of the case (including, where applicable, those connected with the person’s appointment as an officer, or employment as an employee, of a co-operative), the person ought fairly to be excused for the contravention;
the Supreme Court may relieve the person either wholly or partly from a liability to which the person would otherwise be subject, or that might otherwise be imposed on the person, because of the contravention.
In determining under subsection (2) whether a person ought fairly to be excused for a contravention of section 588G of the Corporations Act as applying under this Law, the matters to which regard is to be had include, but are not limited to—
any action the person took with a view to appointing an administrator of the co-operative; and
when that action was taken; and
the results of that action.
If a person thinks that eligible proceedings will or may be begun against them, they may apply to the Supreme Court for relief.
On an application under subsection (4), the court may grant relief under subsection (2) as if the eligible proceedings had been begun in the court.
For the purposes of subsection (2) as applying for the purposes of a case tried by a judge with a jury—
a reference in that subsection to the Supreme Court is a reference to the judge; and
the relief that may be granted includes withdrawing the case in whole or in part from the jury and directing judgment to be entered for the defendant on such terms as to costs as the judge thinks appropriate.
Nothing in this section limits, or is limited by, section 566.
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