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The latest issue of the Journal of Banking and Finance Law and Practice (Volume 29 Part 4) contains the following material:
Articles
SolarCoin: Virtual Currency Meets Solar Electricity – A Bright Future? – Ben Hartsuyker
As a virtual currency that users earn by producing solar electricity, SolarCoin occupies a meeting point between two technologies whose impact on individuals’ daily lives is continually expanding. SolarCoin offers a range of benefits to its users, investors and society at large, but also poses a number of risks. This article examines how SolarCoin’s risks are addressed within Australia’s existing regulatory frameworks. This examination reveals that at present a number of the currency’s risks are not adequately addressed. However, this article argues, because SolarCoin and other virtual currencies remain in their technological infancy, Australian policymakers and regulators, along with their international counterparts, should not jump too hastily towards large-scale regulation. Rather, these bodies should maintain a light-handed approach, addressing existing regulatory failures while prioritising education of market participants to ensure a more level playing field for users and would-be investors.
Unfairness in Islamic Finance Contracts: The Malaysian Case – Adnan Trakic
Islamic finance today, to a large extent, seems to be an Islamised version of the conventional finance. This Islamisation has been achieved through an intensive and creative use of various Islamic contracts which came to be known as Islamic finance contracts. It is not uncommon for these contracts to include the very same clauses that are heavily used in the conventional finance. This increasing resemblance between the two raises the possibility of Islamic finance contracts becoming unfair or containing an unfair term. This article seeks to explore the approach of the Malaysian court towards substantive unfairness in Islamic finance contracts. An in-depth analysis of recent judicial decisions on the subject seems to suggest that the court is unwilling to remedy the unfairness in Islamic finance contracts and, instead, delegates that very important judicial function to Shari’ah scholars. The article examines the proposed notion and suggests feasible solutions.
Romalpa Suppliers and the PPSA – For Better or Worse in Insolvency – Part I – David Morrison and Matthew Broderick
Romalpa clauses, more commonly known as retention of title clauses, are designed to maximise the return to a seller of goods in a buyer’s insolvency. This is achieved by the retention of title in goods and its concomitant benefits, including proprietary tracing rights to derivative proceeds exercisable outside of a buyer’s insolvency. The Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) now regulates retention of title transactions over personal property within the context of “conditional sale agreements”. Title is insignificant as retention of title interests are categorised as security interests under the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth). The statutory relegation of title to a security interest is examined in this twopart journal publication. Part I reviews the operation of the Romalpa clause, the registration process and recovery. The prevalent theme is that the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) is more favourable to retention of title sellers than the law it replaces.
BANKING LAW AND BANKING PRACTICE – Editors: Alan L Tyree and John Sheahan QC
- Blockchain I: The Basics – Alan L Tyree
COMMERCIAL AND FINANCE LAW – Editors: Patrick Lowden and Andrew Booth
- Unlocking the Potential of Data in Australia’s Financial System – Suzana Livaja
INSOLVENCY LAW AND MANAGEMENT – Editors: Lindsay Powers, Gerard Breen and Jason Harris
- Appeal Court Overturns Hamersley v Forge: Insolvency Set-off Rights Not Destroyed by the PPSA – Lindsay Powers and Anthony Sommer
TAX AND STAMP DUTY – Editor: Keshni Maharaj
- New Tax Rules for Stapled Structures – Mark Friezer
- Personal Insolvency in the 21st Century: A Comparative Analysis of the US and Europe – Reviewed by Gregory Burton SC
For the PDF version of the table of contents, click here: JBFLP Vol 29 No 4 Contents.
Click here to access this Part on Westlaw AU
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