THE CORPORATIONS LAW

CHAPTER 5 - EXTERNAL ADMINISTRATION

PART 5.2 - RECEIVERS, AND OTHER CONTROLLERS, OF PROPERTY OF CORPORATIONS

SECTION 419   LIABILITY OF CONTROLLER  

419(1)  [Liability for debts incurred]  

A receiver, or any other authorised person, who, whether as agent for the corporation concerned or not, enters into possession or assumes control of any property of a corporation for the purpose of enforcing any charge is, notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, but without prejudice to the person's rights against the corporation or any other person, liable for debts incurred by the person in the course of the receivership, possession or control for services rendered, goods purchased or property hired, leased, used or occupied.

419(2)  [No mortgagee in possession]  

Subsection (1) does not constitute the person entitled to the charge a mortgagee in possession.

419(3)  [Liability of controller not properly appointed as receiver]  

Where:

(a)  a person (in this subsection called the `` controller '') enters into possession or assumes control of property of a corporation;

(b)  the controller purports to have been properly appointed as a receiver in respect of that property under a power contained in an instrument, but has not been properly so appointed; and

(c)  civil proceedings in an Australian court arise out of an act alleged to have been done by the controller;

the court may, if it is satisfied that the controller believed on reasonable grounds that the controller had been properly so appointed, order that:

(d)  the controller be relieved in whole or in part of a liability that the controller has incurred but would not have incurred if the controller had been properly so appointed; and

(e)  a person who purported to appoint the controller as receiver be liable in respect of an act, matter or thing in so far as the controller has been relieved under paragraph (d) of liability in respect of that act, matter or thing.