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ARTICLE · 17 AUGUST 2021

Electronic execution of documents under the Corporations Act reinstated

Corrs Chambers Westgarth
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Laws were recently passed to reinstate the previous COVID relief that allowed for electronic execution of documents.

AustraliaCorporate/Commercial Law
Clare Corke
Clare Corke
Ken Li
Ken Li
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After months of uncertainty following the lapse of the Corporations (Coronavirus Economic Response) Determination (No. 3) 2020 (Cth) on 21 March 2021, legislation has now been passed to reinstate the previous COVID-19 relief allowing for electronic execution of documents under section 127 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Corporations Act). The return of the relief will be welcomed by many as we wait for this temporary measure to be made permanent, potentially later this year.

Background

The details of the relief are set out in the Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) Act 2021 (the Act), which was passed by both houses of the parliament on 10 August 2021 and received Royal Assent on 13 August 2021. The Act amends section 127 of the Corporations Act to permit:

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