Section 269Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth)

Bankrupt or debtor who is a party to a debt agreement obtaining credit etc. without disclosing bankruptcy or debt agreement

(1) An undischarged bankrupt or a debtor who is a party to a debt agreement shall not:

(a) either alone or jointly with another person, obtain credit to the extent of $3,000 or more from a person without informing that person that he or she is an undischarged bankrupt or a party to a debt agreement (as the case requires);

(aa) either alone or jointly with another person, obtain goods or services from a person:

(i) by giving a bill of exchange or cheque drawn, or a promissory note made, by him or her either alone or jointly with another person, being a bill, cheque or note under which the sum payable is $3,000 or more; or

(ii) by giving 2 or more such instruments under which the sums payable amount in the aggregate to $3,000 or more;

without informing that person that he or she is an undischarged bankrupt or a party to a debt agreement (as the case requires);

(ab) either alone or jointly with another person, enter into a hire‑purchase agreement with a person, or enter into a contract or agreement for the leasing or hiring of any goods from a person, being a hire‑purchase agreement, contract or agreement under which the amounts payable to that person amount in the aggregate to $3,000 or more, without informing that person that he or she is an undischarged bankrupt or a party to a debt agreement (as the case requires);

(ac) either alone or jointly with another person, obtain goods or services from a person by promising to pay that person or another person an amount of, or amounts aggregating, $3,000 or more without informing that person that he or she is an undischarged bankrupt or a party to a debt agreement (as the case requires);

(ad) either alone or jointly with another person, obtain an amount of, or amounts aggregating, $3,000 or more from a person by promising to supply goods to, or render services for, that person or another person without informing that person that he or she is an undischarged bankrupt or a party to a debt agreement (as the case requires); or

(b) carry on business under an assumed name, in the name of another person or, either alone or in partnership, under a firm name without disclosing to every person with whom he or she or, if he or she is carrying on business in partnership under a firm name, the partnership deals, his or her true name and the fact that he or she is an undischarged bankrupt or a party to a debt agreement (as the case requires).

(2) This section has effect subject to section 304A.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 3 years.

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 May 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au. Verify the current text against the official source before relying on it.

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