With effect from the commencement of the new financial year in July 2017, the Australian federal and state governments implemented a range of legal and regulatory changes, which could affect entities undertaking or contemplating investments in Australian land, companies or businesses or who are seeking to establish operations in Australia. We have summarised four of these key changes below.

In Berryman v Zurich Australia Ltd [2016] WASC 196 it was decided that a bankrupt's entitlement to claim a TPD benefit under a life insurance policy is not an entitlement that is divisible amongst the bankrupt's creditors, and therefore such an entitlement does not vest in the Official Trustee in bankruptcy. Tottle J of the Supreme Court of Western Australia ruled that the bankrupt insured could continue an action in his own name to recover the TPD benefit. Life insurers may need to adjust their claims' payment practices in light of the Berryman decision.

Case Note: Re Cardinia Nominees Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 32

Facts of the case

Cardinia Nominees Pty Ltd (Cardinia) agreed to lend Inika Pty Ltd (Inika) the sum of $750,000, in exchange for the issue of convertible bonds to Cardinia. The loan was secured by a charge in favour of Cardinia over the whole of Inika’s assets.