In response to the coronavirus pandemic the Australian Government, through the Department of Treasury, has issued a Fact Sheet of information about the part of it’s economic package that is designed “to lessen the threat of actions that could unnecessarily push (distressed businesses) into insolvency and force the winding up of the business.”
A copy of the Fact Sheet is available by clicking or touching HERE.
The Treasury has today (28 September 2017) released a consultation paper on reforms to address illegal phoenix activity. The closing date for submissions by interested parties is 27 October 2017.
The paper is available for download from the Treasury website.
Below is the foreword to the paper, by the Hon Kelly O’Dwyer MP, Minister for Revenue and Financial Services:
Phoenixing involves the stripping and transfer of assets from one company to another to avoid paying liabilities. It hurts all Australians, including employees, creditors, competing businesses and taxpayers, and has been a problem for successive governments over many decades.
Phoenixing has a significant financial impact – in 2012, the Fair Work Ombudsman and PwC estimated the cost of phoenixing to the Australian economy to be as high as $3.2 billion annually. It also undermines business’ and the public’s confidence in the corporate and insolvency sectors and the broader economy.
Companies fail for many different reasons, and it can be difficult to distinguish between those who are engaging in illegal phoenix activity and those who are simply involved in a failed company. We are committed to helping honest and diligent entrepreneurs who drive Australia’s productivity, but we won’t tolerate those who misuse the corporate form, to defeat creditors and rip off all Australians. Continue reading »
NEWS REPORT FROM The Australian ON MORNING OF 5 SEPTEMBER 2016 ……………………………………………..
Clive Palmer demanded weekly cash flow statements for Queensland Nickel (QN) be delivered to him in hard copy because he was “concerned about espionage”.
Former chief financial officer Daren Wolfe has told the Federal Court public examination into the collapse of the Townsville company that Mr Palmer had an “active interest” in the business during 2015, before it fell into voluntary administration in January.
Mr Palmer is alleged to have acted as a shadow director, a claim he denies.
Mr Wolfe told the court weekly and monthly financial documents were prepared about the health of the company. He said Mr Palmer asked for the data in hard copy, not via email. Asked why, by Tom Sullivan QC for special purpose liquidators PPB Advisory, Mr Wolfe said: “He had concerns about espionage”.
Mr Wolfe said Mr Palmer was required to sign off on any expenditure for Queensland Nickel over $10,000 — even when he was not a director of the company.
When Mr Palmer entered politics as an MP in 2013, Mr Palmer described himself as a fulltime politician and retired from business.
When QN collapsed, Mr Palmer said he was not involved in the day-to-day running of the business. However, the Federal Court has heard there was a practice within QN for Mr Palmer to have final say on expenditure even when he was not formally a director.
After two failed attempts to avoid being publicly interrogated over the collapse of his Queensland Nickel company, self-proclaimed billionaire Clive Palmer must front court today over the corporate failure.
The resources tycoon, QN’s former chief financial officer Daren Wolfe, and the refinery’s former managing director of operations, Ian Ferguson, have been summoned to appear this morning in the Federal Court in Brisbane to face public examination. In hearings scheduled to last a fortnight, the three will be quizzed about the Townsville company’s downfall, which left creditors up to $300 million out of pocket and almost 800 workers without jobs. The federal government had to step in with $68m to cover the redundancy entitlements of Mr Palmer’s former employees.
Lawyers instructed by special- purpose liquidators PPB Advisory will lead the questioning, which will focus on whether a claim can be launched against QN’s director, Mr Palmer’s nephew Clive Mensink, and Mr Palmer as alleged shadow director, for insolvent trading.
The special-purpose liquidators have also been told to investigate QN’s historical affairs and possible claims against its parent companies, QNI Metals and QNI Resources, both ultimately controlled by Mr Palmer.
Mr Palmer denies he acted as a shadow director and both men deny any wrongdoing.
Mr Mensink is overseas and has not yet been served with a summons.
Mr Palmer could also be interrogated about his personal assets, such as property, as liquidators seek funds that might be distributed to creditors.
Under the Corporations Act, examinees are entitled to claim privilege against self-incrimination before each answer. That does not shield the witnesses from answering a question, but prevents their answers being used against them as evidence in future criminal or civil proceedings, apart from perjury. The Australian understands the strategy is used commonly by witnesses in public examinations, particularly directors or former directors of failed companies.
Mr Palmer did not respond to questions from The Australian yesterday.
The former federal MP for Fairfax, who stood down before this year’s election, twice tried and failed to avoid the public examination. Both attempts were dismissed by Federal Court judges, who said the hearings were in the public interest.
…………………………………….. END OF NEWS ITEM