On September 28, 2022, Australia announced an inquiry into the effectiveness of its corporate insolvency laws. The Australia and New Zealand corporate insolvency frameworks have similar objectives and operate in a similar context where, as is the case the world over, most companies are small to medium enterprises. Despite liquidation being just one of several collective and formal corporate insolvency procedures, it is the most frequently occurring procedure in both countries by a large margin. The Australian and New Zealand liquidation schemes have many similarities but also some key differences. Differences include the structure of the respective schemes; the levers prompting liquidation of companies in appropriate circumstances; the role of creditors, the court and the regulator; and the management of low-value and assetless liquidations. These differences are analysed to determine what, if anything, the New Zealand scheme might contribute to development and/or reform of Australian corporate insolvency law. As consistency and coordination with Australian insolvency law is a New Zealand policy aim, the lessons the Australian scheme might have for New Zealand are also considered. Many of the points on which the Australian and New Zealand liquidation schemes differ are of universal concern (such as the management of low-value liquidations), meaning that the nature and success (or otherwise) of the Australian and New Zealand responses are of wider, comparative interest.

中文翻译：

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澳大利亚和新西兰清算方案的比较分析

2022 年 9 月 28 日，澳大利亚宣布对其公司破产法的有效性进行调查。澳大利亚和新西兰的公司破产框架具有相似的目标并在相似的背景下运作，与世界各地的情况一样，大多数公司都是中小型企业。尽管清算只是几种集体和正式的公司破产程序之一，但它是两国最常出现的程序，而且差距很大。澳大利亚和新西兰的清算计划有许多相似之处，但也有一些关键差异。差异包括各个计划的结构；在适当情况下促使公司清算的杠杆；债权人、法院和监管机构的作用；以及低价值和无资产清算的管理。对这些差异进行分析以确定新西兰计划可能对澳大利亚公司破产法的发展和/或改革有何贡献（如果有的话）。由于新西兰的政策目标是与澳大利亚破产法保持一致和协调，因此还考虑了澳大利亚计划可能对新西兰产生的教训。澳大利亚和新西兰清算方案的许多不同点都受到普遍关注（例如低价值清算的管理），这意味着澳大利亚和新西兰应对措施的性质和成功（或其他方面）具有更广泛的意义，比较兴趣。由于新西兰的政策目标是与澳大利亚破产法保持一致和协调，因此还考虑了澳大利亚计划可能对新西兰产生的教训。澳大利亚和新西兰清算方案的许多不同点都受到普遍关注（例如低价值清算的管理），这意味着澳大利亚和新西兰应对措施的性质和成功（或其他方面）具有更广泛的意义，比较兴趣。由于新西兰的政策目标是与澳大利亚破产法保持一致和协调，因此还考虑了澳大利亚计划可能对新西兰产生的教训。澳大利亚和新西兰清算方案的许多不同点都受到普遍关注（例如低价值清算的管理），这意味着澳大利亚和新西兰应对措施的性质和成功（或其他方面）具有更广泛的意义，比较兴趣。