Hastie: Appeal possible as liquidator shrugs off costs

The ongoing saga of the Hastie Group Pty Ltd continued yesterday with liquidator Craig Crosbie flagging a possible appeal as the Federal Court delivered reasons in respect of costs.

In Hastie Group Limited (in liq) v Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd (Formerly Brookfield Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd) (No 4) [2022] FCA 1575 retiring judge John Middleton made multiple costs orders in favour of the respondents.

But when iNO caught up with him, Hastie liquidator and PwC partner Crosbie was as unperturbed as only a liquidator fully indemnified by the Commonwealth can be.

“The adverse cost orders are only in respect of a small portion of the larger pool of claims and should not be significant,” Crosbie said, adding that “it should be noted that an appeal is also being considered”.

And he reiterated that the balance of his receivables and bank guarantee claims remain recoverable in full.

“The respondents are required to provide evidence if they wish to dispute their indebtedness to the Hastie Entities, including provision of evidence of their losses that they seek to apply as an alleged set-off,” he said.

“Importantly, the Court has ordered the respondents (save for Grocon) to attend mediation on or before 31 March 2023.”

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