Corporations Act 2001

CHAPTER 2G - MEETINGS  

PART 2G.7 - INDEPENDENT REPORTS ON POLLS  

SECTION 253UC   COMPANY MEMBERS ' RIGHTS TO REQUEST SCRUTINY AND REPORT ON OUTCOME OF POLL  

253UC(1)    
Members of a company with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast at a meeting of the company ' s members may request the company to appoint an independent person to:

(a)    scrutinise the outcome of a poll at the meeting; and

(b)    prepare a report on the outcome of the poll.

253UC(2)    
The request must:

(a)    be in writing; and

(b)    identify the poll to which it relates; and

(c)    be made no later than 5 business days after the day the meeting is held.

253UC(3)    
To avoid doubt, the request may be made before the meeting is held.

253UC(4)    
A company commits an offence if:

(a)    the company receives a request under subsection (1) ; and

(b)    the company fails to take reasonable steps to:

(i) ensure that an independent person scrutinises the outcome of the poll to which the request relates; and

(ii) ensure that the independent person prepares a report on the outcome of the poll; and

(iii) ensure that a copy of the report is made readily available to the members of the company within a reasonable time after the request is received.

253UC(5)    
An offence based on subsection (4) is an offence of strict liability.

253UC(6)    
A company that appoints an independent person for the purposes of this section is liable to pay the independent person ' s fees.

253UC(7)    
To avoid doubt, an independent person appointed for the purposes of this section may be an auditor or a registry service provider (including an auditor or a registry service provider of the company concerned), unless the relevant poll concerns an issue or a matter relating to the person.

253UC(8)    
To avoid doubt, if the same independent person is appointed under section 253UB and this section in relation to a poll, the reports on the conduct and outcome of the poll may be included in a single report.