Commercial business law

Government takes first step to implement its overseas investment review
On 22 April 2009, the Minister of Finance and the Minister for Land Information issued to the Overseas Investment Office a new Designation and Delegation letter that provides the first opportunity to consider how the government may implement the outcome of its review of the overseas investment regime. This letter, setting out the powers and functions delegated to the Overseas Investment Office, is intended to result in fewer applications needing a ministerial decision, so as to increase the timeliness of the application process. In this article, partner David Boswell outlines the key aspects of the government's review and considers whether the Designation and Delegation letter is a step in the right direction.

PPSA "wool" case revisited
The Court of Appeal has reversed the High Court's decision in JS Brooksbank & Co (Australasia) Limited v EXFTX Limited (in receivership and liquidation) by finding that a supply arrangement between the parties was not a "security interest" under the PPSA and allowing the supplier to sue in conversion for its goods. In this article, senior associate Hamish Taylor analyses the decision and discusses some practical implications of the decision for suppliers.

Bell Gully's take on changes to the RMA
The government's Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill is currently before the Local Government and Environment Select Committee. In this update to our article "RMA reforms signal a step in the right direction" (in the Summer 2009 issue of Commercial Quarterly), senior partner David McGregor, partner Andrew Beatson and senior solicitor Vivienne Holm outline Bell Gully's concerns about several aspects of the bill.

Enquiries and information

For more information on any of the cases, articles and features in Commercial Quarterly, please email Diane Graham or call her on 64 9 916 8849.