The New South Wales Supreme Court has made orders sought by ASIC to preserve and protect assets held through the Deckchair Trust, a trust associated with NSW accountant and former solicitor Christopher Malcolm Edwards.
These further orders follow those made on 21 August 2026 by the Court for the appointment of provisional liquidators to 12 companies associated with Mr Edwards following an application by ASIC (26-199MR). The earlier orders included orders that the provisional liquidators be appointed as interim receivers and managers of the assets held by Great Northern Morayfield Pty Ltd as trustee for the Deckchair Trust pending determination of these proceedings.
Shortly after the previous orders were made, ASIC learned that Mr Edwards had purportedly changed the trustee for the Deckchair Trust from Great Northern Morayfield Pty Ltd to himself on 23 July 2026.
After becoming aware, ASIC filed an urgent application to the Courts seeking further orders, including against Mr Edwards personally, having regard to the purported change of trustee. On 9 September 2026, ASIC’s application was heard by Justice Nixon who made orders including that:
- the provisional liquidators are appointed as receivers and managers of the assets of the Deckchair Trust,
- Mr Edwards must provide the books and records of the trust to the receivers and managers, and
- Mr Edwards be joined as a party to the proceedings.
ASIC’s joinder of Mr Edwards as a party to the proceeding is presently limited to obtaining orders with respect to the Deckchair Trust.
ASIC's investigation remains ongoing.
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Background
On 17 September 2025, ASIC banned Mr Edwards from providing financial services for 10 years (25-204MR).
On 25 March 2026, ASIC commenced winding up proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court to wind up 12 companies associated with Mr Edwards (26-054MR), including an interlocutory application for the appointment of provisional liquidators to the companies.
Effective from 28 May 2026 ASIC disqualified Mr Edwards from being a self-managed superannuation fund auditor (26-170MR).
On 21 August 2026, the Court appointed provisional liquidators to 12 companies associated with Mr Edwards and appointed those provisional liquidators as receivers and managers over the property, business, assets and undertakings held by Great Northern Morayfield Pty Ltd as trustee for the Deckchair Trust (26-199MR).