AKL [2020] NSWCATGD 78
Catchwords: GUARDIANSHIP – application for a guardianship order – dispute over access and communication with each parent – conciliation between parties – terms of settlement – request to withdraw application – consent to withdrawal of application FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT – application for a financial management order – beneficial entitlements to advances or distributions from a family trust – uncertainty on availability of disability support pension – financial issues unable to be resolved informally – suitability of proposed financial manager – need for independent assessment and legal advice – risk of deterioration of family relationships – appointment of NSW Trustee and Guardian in subject person’s best interests
NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal
New South Wales
Medium Neutral Citation:
AKL [2020] NSWCATGD 78
Hearing dates:
26 August 2020
Date of orders:
26 August 2020 (Guardianship Application)
7 September 2020 (Financial Management Application)
Decision date:
07 September 2020
Jurisdiction:
Guardianship Division
Before:
J S Currie, Senior Member (Legal)
Dr S Williams, Senior Member (Professional)
S Bullock, General Member (Community)
Decision:
GUARDIANSHIP APPLICATION
The application is dismissed because QNT has withdrawn the application and the Tribunal consents.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT APPLICATION
1. The estate of AKL is subject to management under the NSW Trustee and Guardian Act 2009 (NSW).
2. The management of the estate of
AKL
is committed to the NSW Trustee and Guardian.
3. This order
be
reviewed by the Tribunal within 12 months.
Catchwords:
GUARDIANSHIP – application for a guardianship order
–
dispute over access and communication with each parent
–
conciliation between parties
–
terms of settlement –
request to withdraw application – consent to
withdrawal of application
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
–
application for a financial management order – beneficial entitlements to advances or distributions from a family trust – uncertainty on
availability of disability support pension –
financial issues unable to be resolved informally – suitability of proposed financial manager – need for independent assessment and legal advice – risk of deterioration of family
relationships –
appointment of NSW Trustee and Guardian in subject person’s best interests
Legislation Cited:
Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act
2013 (NSW) , s 55(1)(a)
Guardianship Act 1987 (NSW),
ss
4, 4(a), 25G
NSW Trustee and Guardian Act 2009
(NSW), s 39(a)
Cases Cited:
CJ v AKJ
[2015] NSWSC 498
Fischer v
Nemeske
Pty Ltd
[2016] HCA 11
G v G
[2016] NSWSC 511
H v H
[2015] NSW SC 837
Holt & Anor v Protective Commissioner
(1993) 31 NSWLR 227
M v M
[2013] NSWSC 1495
McD
v
McD
(1983) 3 NSWLR 81
P v NSW Trustee and Guardian
[2015] NSWSC 579
Re W and L (Parameters of Estate Management Orders) [2014] NSWSC 1106
SLJ v RTJ [2017] NSWSC 137
Texts Cited:
Nil
Category:
Principal judgment
Parties:
004: Guardianship Application
AKL (subject person)
QNT (applicant, carer)
RZL (carer)
Public Guardian (statutory party)
003: Financial Management Application
AKL (subject person)
RZL (applicant, carer)
QNT (carer)
NSW Trustee and Guardian (statutory party)
Representation:
Counsel:
J Hill (Separate Representative of Subject Person)
Solicitors:
Beswick Lynch Lawyers (T Lynch) (for RZL)
File Number(s):
NCAT 2018/00220667
Publication restriction:
Decisions of the Guardianship Division of the Civil and Administrative Tribunal have been anonymised to remove any information that may identify any person involved in the Tribunal’s proceedings: Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW), s 65.
REASONS FOR DECISION
GUARDIANSHIP APPLICATION AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT APPLICATION
Background
AKL , aged 19 years, has been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder Level 3, moderate to severe intellectual disability (level 4 ASD), obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety and epilepsy with ongoing seizures.
AKL
is reported to have delayed learning in all areas, to have difficulty with social interaction and to require supervision for self-care and the activities of daily living.
AKL
receives support services from
a not-for-profit service provider.
AKL
lives
in regional NSW
with his father
RZL , who is his primary carer. His mother,
QNT , lives separately.
QNT
and
RZL
were divorced in 2016.
On 27 May 2020 the Tribunal received from
RZL
an application which sought the appointment of a financial manager for his son
AKL .
On 29 July 2020 the Tribunal received from
QNT
an application which sought the appointment of a guardian for her son
AKL .
The purpose of these proceedings before us at Sydney was to conduct a hearing of each of those applications.
The hearing was conducted by telephone. Members Williams and Bullock participated remotely.
Our tasks in respect of each application were as follows:
I n relation to the guardianship application, we had to decide whether or not to make a guardianship order for
AKL
and if an order were to be made the
identity of the guardian, the guardian ’ s functions and authorities, any other conditions of the order and its duration; and
I n relation to the financial management application, we had to decide whether or not to grant the application and to make a financial management order for
AKL . If an order were to be made we had to
decide whether any person would be appointed as a private financial manager or alternatively
whether the management of
AKL ’ s estate would be committed to NSW Trustee and Guardian. We also had to determine any conditions or limitations would apply to the order.
We decided:
in relation to the guardianship application, to consent to the withdrawal of
the application by the
a pplicant,
QNT ,
and to dismiss the application under s 55(1)(a) of the
Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act
2013
(NSW) ; and
in
relation to the financial management application, to make a financial management
order for
AKL
under which the management of
his
estate was committed to NSW Trustee
and to require the order to be reviewed by the Tribunal within 12 months.
These are our reasons for those decisions.
Parties, participants and statutory provisions
Appendix A to these Reasons identifies the parties to each application and the participants in the hearing
[Appendix removed for publication.] .
Appendix B sets out the principal statutory provisions we have referred to
[Appendix removed for publication] .
Absence of
AKL
We seek to hold our hearings in a way which promotes the participation of the person who is the subject of the application or review and we do our best to obtain the views of the subject person whenever possible. Where we are able to obtain the subject person ’ s views we take them into consideration in exercising our functions under the
Guardianship Act
1987
(NSW)
.
At the commencement of the hearing it was apparent that
AKL
was not a participant.
AKL ’ s parents were of the view that because of his diagnosed disabilities and his ongoing cognitive difficulties, he would not understand the nature of these proceedings or the issues which we had to determine and that any attempt to require or to encourage him to participate, for example by telephone, would cause him some distress and anxiety. Such a conclusion was supported by the medical and clinical assessment reports we had received. There were no opposing views. We accepted that conclusion as reasonable. We were satisfied that in the circumstances it would impose unnecessary and unreasonable burden for
AKL
to be required to participate in the hearing.
We also took into account that Ms Jill Hill of Counsel had been appointed as
AKL ’ s Separate Representative and would participate in the hearing in that capacity.
We excused
AKL
from participation.
THE GUARDIANSHIP APPLICATION
Settlement discussions and terms
Following our preliminary discussion of the guardianship application with the participants, it emerged that
QNT
and
RZL
were prepared to discuss their differences on the central issues raised in the application, with an effort to reaching a suitable settlement of those issues. The central issues appeared to be access by
AKL
to each of his parents and communication between them.
The Separate Representative, Ms Hill of Counsel, agreed to facilitate these discussions, with the participation of Mr Timothy Lynch, Solicitor, as the Legal Representative of
RZL .
Following discussions between those parties, which extended over a period of approximately one hour, Ms Hill informed us that the parties had reached a compromise on the identified issues and that the terms of that compromise
had been reduced to writing by Ms Hill ( “
the Terms of Settlement
” ). Ms Hill read to us her note of the Terms of Settlement. A transcript of what she read to us is set out in Appendix C to these Reasons
[Appendix removed for publication] .
On the basis of the Terms of Settlement the
a pplicant
QNT
sought to withdraw the guardianship application.
Consent to withdrawal and dismissal of the application.
Any request for withdrawal must be consented to by the Tribunal. In order to consent we must be satisfied that the subject person ’ s welfare and interests will not be adversely affected by the withdrawal and the consequent dismissal of the application.
We heard from Ms Hill and Mr Lynch as to the Terms of Settlement and their implementation. We adjourned briefly to consider whether we would consent to the withdrawal of the application. Ultimately we were satisfied that
AKL ’ s welfare and interests would not be adversely affected by withdrawal and the dismissal of the guardianship application, given the agreement between his parents reflected in the Terms of Settlement
It followed that we should consent to the withdrawal and formally dismiss the application under s 55(1 )( a) of the
Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act
.
We ordered accordingly.
THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT APPLICATION
Statutory issues for determination
By operation of
s
25G of the
Guardianship
Ac
t
, we may only make a financial management order for
AKL
if we are satisfied that:
he is incapable of
managing his affairs; and
there
is
a need for another person to manage his affairs; and
it
would be in his best interests
for a financial management order to be made.
The relevant time for considering whether a person is incapable of
managing
his or her affairs is not merely the day of hearing but the reasonably
foreseeable
future:
McD
v
McD
(1983) 3 NSWLR 81,
[ 86];
Re W and L (Parameters of Estate Management Orders)
[2014] NSWSC 1106
at [20] .
If those
three
issues are satisfied then a financial management order will be made for
AKL . The remaining issue is who should be appointed as his financial manager.
Incapability
We reviewed and relied upon the following expert reports in relation to
AKL ’ s capability of managing his affairs:
a report dated
29 March 2017 from
Mr Z , Psychologist and School Counsellor at
a special education school ;
a short report dated 11 April 2018 from
Dr Y , Consultant Paediatrician;
an occupational therapy assessment report dated 1 July 2019 from
Ms X ; and
a
Behavioural
Assessment Report dated 24 April 2020 by
Ms W , Provisional Psychologist at
a community service provider .
We considered that documentation in conjunction with a review of
AKL ’ s National Disability Insurance Scheme
Plan dated 15 April 2019 and an attached Support Plan from
the not-for-profit service provider .
We understood the professional observations and opinions contained
in
those reports and related documentation to be uncontested by
AKL ’ s parents.
On that basis we were satisfied that
at present and for the reasonably foreseeable future,
AKL
was unable to make or implement decisions about his own person and property, his capital and income in a reasonable rational and orderly way,
with due regard to
his
present and prospective wants and needs, without undue risk of neglect, abuse or exploitation.
That is the well-known test for incapability of managing one ’ s affairs as propounded by Justice Lindsay of the Supreme Court of NSW in two of the leading cases on the subject,
P v NSW Trustee and Guardian
[2015] NSWSC 579 at [307]-[308]
and
CJ v AKJ
[2015] NSWSC 498 at
[27] and [53].
We found that
AKL
is incapable of managing his affairs.
Need and best interests
The next issues, which, although they are distinct, can conveniently be considered in conjunction, are whether
there
is
a need for another person to manage
AKL ’ s
affairs and
whether
it
would be in
his
best interests for a financial management order to be made . We must be satisfied as to both issues before we can make an order.
Uncontested facts in relation to these issues
The following background facts relevant to consideration of the remaining issues appear to be uncontested.
A deed dated 5 June 2012 ( “
the Trust Establishment Deed
” )
established The
AKL1
Family Trust, which was later known as The
AKL2
Family Trust ( “
the Family Trust
” ). The Trust Establishment Deed was amended by a further deed dated 17 June 2015 ( “
the Trust Amendment Deed
” ) under which
QNT
(described in the Deed as
“ QNT ” ) as Appointor under the Trust Deed, removed
RZL
as the Trustee and that change was acknowledged by
AKL . (The Tribunal
was given a copy of the Trust Amendment Deed but not of the Trust Deed).
By operation of
clause 4 of the Trust Amendment Deed,
QNT
as Appointor and New Trustee released and discharged
AKL
as the Original Trustee from, and indemnified him against, all claims against him arising out of his administration of the Family Trust.
QNT
remains the Trustee of the Family Trust.
At all relevant times
AKL
was a beneficiary of the Family Trust.
The income from the Family Trust was fully paid out each tax year up to and including 2018, to cover the costs of the family, including
AKL .
It is asserted on behalf of
RZL
and apparently not contested that distributions of income from the Family Trust to
AKL
were recorded in the trust ’ s accounts
for at least tax years 2013 to 2018.
However for subsequent tax years, no income from the Family Trust was paid or applied for the benefit of
AKL .
AKL
applied for the disability support pension ( “
DSP
” ) in May 2019, shortly after his 18th birthday.
By a decision on 23 August 2019, confirmed on review on 30 September 2019, Centrelink refused the DSP on the ground that a family discretionary trust (that is, the Family Trust) had declared an income distribution to
AKL
for the 2018 tax year for $66,077 ( and
apparently a further distribution for the 2019 tax year), with the result that his income exceeded the threshold beyond which no benefit is payable. The
notice of review confirmed that :
“The distribution income is assessed to ([AKL]) regardless of whether (he) physically received it or not.”
By a resolution dated 11
October
2019
QNT
as Trustee of the Family Trust purported to distribute trust income to
Mr U
and further resolved:
“…THAT, for the avoidance of doubt, in respect of any payments that have actually been made by the Trustee to the benefit of…any other Beneficiary of the Trust during the year ended 30 June 2018, the making of the payment did not constitute the making of a Distribution by the Trustee unless the payment was expressly recorded by resolution of the Trustee as constituting a Distribution…”
An administrative review of Centrelink ’ s decision referred to at (7) was sought through an application to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal ( “
AAT
” ). Those
proceedings
seem to have been initially unsuccessful, with the AAT deciding on 11 December 2019 to dismiss the application for review. However orders were subsequently made by consent on 20 May 2020, setting aside the earlier AAT decision and declaring that there was no trust distribution from the Family Trust in the 2018 and 2019 tax years. The decision concerning
AKL ’ s entitlement to the DSP was remitted to Centrelink (Services Australia) for reconsideration. The result of that reconsideration appeared to
be
unknown at the date of our hearing.
The positions of the relevant parties and the Separate Representative
1.
QNT
In her written submissions
QNT
agreed that her son
AKL
“… needs an appropriate person to manage his financial affairs ” .
She further contended in those written submissions and at the hearing that the income of the Family Trust was fully distributed in each financial year up to and including 2020, but the trustee had determined not to make any distribution to
AKL
in 2019 or 2020 to avoid any adverse effect on his Centrelink entitlement and that
AKL
does not have any unpaid present entitlement to a distribution or advance from the Family Trust.
However at the hearing we understood
QNT
to contend that there were no substantial issues remaining unresolved in respect of the distributions from the Family Trust and there may be no substantial decision needed from a financial manager. We assumed that
QNT
based that position on her
understanding that the DSP would be ultimately restored, following the referral of that question back to Centrelink in the AAT ’ s orders of 20 May 2020.
We also understood her to contend that even if we ultimately decided to make a financial management order, her former husband
RZL
was not suitable for appointment as financial manager. In that regard she asserted that he may well have a conflict between his personal interests and his obligations as financial manager because he had previously been the trustee of the Family Trust and had received personal distributions from that trust.
2.
RZL
Mr Timothy Lynch, as Legal Representative, made substantial oral submissions on behalf of
AKL . In his contention there were substantial currently unresolved issues arising out of the administration of the Family Trust and that in particular, these involved
AKL ’ s beneficial entitlements to advances or distributions from the trust. Mr Lynch referred us to the High Court decision in
Fischer v
Nemeske
Pty Ltd
[2016] HCA 11 (6 April 2016);
257 CLR 615 in support of the proposition that a trustee’s resolutions to make a distribution create an enforceable legal right to that distribution and that (at least in most cases) that right is not defeated by any subsequent resolution of the trustee purporting to reverse it.
We understood Mr Lynch to concede that otherwise
AKL
’s estate was not a large or complex one. But he emphasised the importance of preserving
AKL
’s right to enforce payments of advances or distributions from the Family Trust.
3.
The Separate Representative, Ms Hill
Ms Hill ’ s position was that unless there were substantial prospects of successfully enforcing payments from the Family Trust for the benefit of
AKL , then his estate appeared to be a simple one and, particularly if the DSP were available to him there may be no need for the appointment of a financial manager. We understood Ms Hill to concede that it may be possible that there
are reasonable prospects of enforcement of
AKL ’ s entitlements under the Family Trust, but that she had not investigated that possibility.
Relevant legal considerations
1.
The Section 4 Principles
In deciding whether there is a need for us to make a financial management order for
AKL
and whether the appointment for him of a financial manager would be in his best interests, we are of course bound by the principles which are set out in
s
4 of the
Guardianship Act
. For convenience of reference, the principles are set out in Appendix B to these Reasons
[Appendix removed for publication] .
We had unfortunately been unable to obtain
AKL ’ s own views, but of the remaining principles in
s
4
of the
Guardianship Act
, those which appeared to be most relevant here are the importance of preserving
AKL ’ s family relationships, the need to ensure his protection from any neglect abuse or exploitation, the need to encourage him, as far as possible, to live a normal life in the community and to be self-reliant in matters relating to his personal, domestic and financial affairs and the paramount principle set out in paragraph (a) of s 4
of that Act , which requires us to ensure that the welfare and interests of the subject person are given paramount consideration.
2.
The protective element
Recent Supreme Court cases have emphasised that in considering a financial management application we are exercising protective jurisdiction.
In
H v H
[2015] NSW SC 837 at [29] and [33] – [34], Lindsay J spoke of the jurisdiction being exercised as being purposive and protective in nature. Significantly, His Honour noted that the statement of general principles in relevant legislation is consistent with the pre-eminence of that protective element. He referred to the
“ welfare principle ”
embodied in s 39(a) of the
NSW Trustee and Guardian Act 2009
(NSW)
and in s 4(a) of the
Guardianship Act
to the effect that the welfare and interests of the subject
person should be given paramount consideration. In
G v G
[2016] NSWSC 511 at [10], Lindsay J emphasised that in considering what order should be made a tribunal must be mindful of the protective purpose of the jurisdiction; and in light of that protective purpose, of the need to ensure that whatever is done, or not done, by us is in the interests and for the benefit of the subject person as a person in need of protection.
Lindsay J confirmed these principles more recently in
SLJ v RTJ
[2017] NSWSC 137 at [24]-[25].
CONSIDERATION: NEED AND BEST INTERESTS
The starting point for our consideration of these issues is that it is beyond the scope of these proceedings to decide the validity (or even the prospects of a successful pursuit and enforcement) of any claim on behalf of
AKL
for advances or distributions from the Family Trust.
In considering the matter, we have taken into account the fact that there remains some degree of uncertainty as to whether Centrelink has yet made a final decision on the availability of the DSP. Ms Hill indicated that she believed that the DSP was being paid but there was no other confirmation and ultimately no certainty on that point. But even if the DSP were now readily available, the amounts involved in the distributions or other advances resolved by the trustee of the Family Trust to be made to
AKL
but purportedly revoked is substantial. For example it seems uncontested that the proposed distribution for the 2018 tax year was $66,077.
We have considered the High Court ’ s judgment in
Fischer v
Nemeske
, which was relied upon by
RZL . (See [37] above).
It seems to us that the situation regarding the making and subsequent purported revocation and declarations of
“ no effect ”
concerning distributions from the Family Trust to
AKL
is, in at least general terms, similar to the situation in
Fischer v
Nemeske
.
We are comfortably satisfied that:
there are
unresolved issues of some substance here;
it is clearly in accordance with
AKL ’ s best interests for those issues to be resolved without undue delay;
those issues cannot, given the present differences between
AKL ’ s parents on these matters, be resolved informally; and
accordingly , they need to be resolved by a third party, who is granted sufficient authority
to obtain appropriate legal advice and perhaps accounting assistance on the issues.
Such a resolution can only be achieved by the appointment of a financial manager for
AKL .
It followed that there was a need for a financial management order and that it was
in
AKL ’ s best interests for a financial manager to be appointed.
Identity of the
financial manager
Our normal
practice ,
where
this
is appropriate and it is in the best interests of the protected person ,
is
to
investigate whether there is
a
private
person such as a
family member or close friend who is suitable for appointment as
financial manager before
we consider committing the management of the estate of the subject person to
NSW Trustee. That
approach
was approved in
Holt & Anor v Protective Commissioner
(1993) 31 NSWLR 227 .
The parties’ positions and views of the Separate Representative
AKL ’ s father
RZL
confirmed that he wished to be considered for appointment as financial manager.
QNT
was strongly opposed to
AKL ’ s appointment as noted at [36] above and suggested that if we were to make a financial management order the conflict
between the parties and what she asserted to be
AKL ’ s conflict of interest made it necessary for the management of
AKL ’ s estate to be committed to NSW Trustee and Guardian.
The Separate Representative, Ms Hill, supported the commitment of management of the estate to NSW Trustee and Guardian on the basis that independent assessment was needed as to the prospects of any recovery on
AKL ’ s behalf from the Family Trust, but more particularly because the appointment of a family member would have a clear adverse effect on
AKL ’ s family relationships and would not, for that reason and generally be consistent with his welfare and interests.
Relevant legal considerations
1.
Section 4 principles
The principles set out in
s
4 of the
Guardianship Act
(set out in Appendix B to these Reasons
[Appendix removed for publication] ) apply to our consideration of the identity of the financial manager. The principles which appeared to be most relevant to this issue are the need to encourage
AKL , so far as possible, to live a normal life in the community and to be self-reliant in his financial affairs and the need to protect him from any neglect abuse or exploitation. The further factor which is clearly relevant is the need to preserve
AKL ’ s family relationships.
We are also bound by the paramount principle which is to give paramount consideration to
AKL ’ s welfare and interests.
2.
General suitability criteria
Before appointing a
private person as
financial manager
we
must be satisfied that the person seeking appointment is willing to act and is suitable for appointment.
Apart from our obligation to apply the
s
4 principles
of the
Guardianship Act
, the relevant legislation does not prescribe criteria for determining a potential
manager ’ s suitability for appointment, but Lindsay J of the Supreme Court of NSW suggested guidelines for this purpose in
M v M
[2013] NSWSC 1495 at [50 (e)- (i) ]
.
Consistently with those guidelines, we normally enquire as to whether any proposed financial manager:
is reasonable
familiar with the subject person ’ s estate;
has
a reasonable level of understanding of how to deal with and account for other people ’ s money. This can usually be demonstrated through their having held a relevant position in a business (including as an owner or employee), or in a not-for-profit organisation such as
a
school or other educational institution, an industry association or trade union, or a community or sporting club or association. In some cases this can be satisfied by demonstrating substantial experience in relation to the subject person ’ s own affairs;
has no conflict of interest which would prevent their appointment on the basis that they might not be seen to be acting solely in the interests of the subject person;
has nothing in their public record, in particular by way of any criminal or bankruptcy proceedings or orders, which might render them unsuitable for appointment; and
is not
un suitable
for any other reason, such as an inability to understand or to comply with the obligations of a financial manager or the likelihood that they will not for any reason (including lack of availability, interest, competence or diligence)
be able to undertake the functions of a financial manager in the best interests of the protected person.
CONSIDERATION: IDENTITY OF THE FINANCIAL MANAGER
We asked
RZ L
certain questions in order to assess his suitability under the criteria which we have described at [60] above.
We found that
RZ L
was reasonably familiar with
AKL ’ s estate and that there could be little doubt that he was close to
AKL
and would, if appointed, act in his welfare and interests. We also found that
RZ L
had business experience which was sufficient to give him a reasonable understanding of how to deal with and account for other people ’ s money in accordance with the criterion described at [60(2) ] .
However ultimately we decided not to appoint
RZ L . We reached that decision for the following reasons:
The priority for any financial manager of
AKL ’ s estate will be to ascertain the
existence, quantum and enforceability of
AKL ’ s entitlements to past distributions or advances from the Family Trust and as a related matter his entitlement to any future distributions or advances.
RZL
was vested with critical decision-making powers in relation to the Family Trust as its trustee, for the period between its creation on 5 June 2012 and his removal as trustee on 17 June 2015. Although we make no formal finding that his position as trustee would be the source of any undue conflict between his duties as financial manager and his personal interest, his ability to pursue any challenge to at least some of the alleged distributions is compromised by his holding of those offices and by the history of his relationship with the current trustee, his former wife.
An even more compelling reason for refusing to appoint
RZ L
is the effect which his appointment will most likely have upon
AKL ’ s existing family relationships. It is clear to us that
AKL ’ s continued welfare and interests rest strongly on the continuation of a close relationship with
both his mother and his father. He depends on his relationships with each of them as a parent. That is essential in securing for
AKL
the opportunity to live a normal life in the community and in preserving his welfare and interests.
It is equally clear that although
QNT
and
RZL
have cooperated on some matters, particularly
those which they mutually recognise to be central to
AKL ’ s welfare, they remain permanently estranged.
It is palpably clear that the appointment of
RZL
as financial manager, carrying with the obliga tion to investigate and if possible enforce
AKL ’ s rights under the Family Trust of which
AKL ’ s mother (his former wife) remains as trustee will bring about early and substantial deterioration of the relationship between
AKL ’ s parents, with consequent damage to his existing family relationships.
For those reasons there is a clear need, in pursuit of
AKL ’ s welfare and interests, for his
financial affairs to be managed independently of the family.
No other private person having been identified to us as willing to be considered for appointment as financial manager, it followed that the management of
AKL ’ s estate should be committed to NSW Trustee and Guardian.
Should the order be subject to review within a given period?
We have the power to make a financial management order reviewable by the Tribunal within a given period. Although that power is not exercised in every case, it is appropriate to do so where the appointed financial manager will need to undertake a discrete range of tasks which can probably be completed within a particular period.
It seemed to us that it may well be appropriate for the order to be reviewed within the next 12 months, as that would appear to allow a reasonable time for
the issues concerning the Family Trust which we have discussed in these Reasons to be more clearly identified, investigated and pursued. At that stage it would clearly be appropriate for the Tribunal to review the order.
It follows that we should make the financial management order reviewable within 12 months.
We ordered accordingly.
**********
I hereby certify that this is a true and accurate record of the reasons for
decision of the Civil and Administrative Tribunal of New South Wales.
Registrar
DISCLAIMER - Every effort has been made to comply with suppression orders or statutory provisions prohibiting publication that may apply to this judgment or decision. The onus remains on any person using material in the judgment or decision to ensure that the intended use of that material does not breach any such order or provision. Further enquiries may be directed to the Registry of the Court or Tribunal in which it was generated.
Decision last updated:
01 November 2021
Official source: https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/17cd8ac29c73e93b66193615