Australia has not been immune to the economic impacts of global financial and geopolitical events. The recent global economic downturn has brought about a heightened focus on financial stability and risk management in Australian businesses. Sponsors and financiers alike are now navigating a complex economic terrain marked by: volatile markets; supply chain disruptions; asset re-valuations;…
What is the Small Business Restructuring process? Australias Small Business Restructuring (SBR) process is a formal insolvency process introduced by the Federal Government in 2021 to give small businesses the opportunity to restructure their debts while directors remain in control of the business, under the supervision of a restructuring practitioner. The SBR process involves a…
South Australian small businesses are facing a choice between calling in the liquidators or bringing in restructuring firms to go on payment plans amid mounting tax debts owed to the Australian Tax Office (ATO). At an information night held three weeks ago by licensed small business restructuring (SMB) firm Small Business Restructuring, five clients representing…
Average global air temperatures breached 1.5C for the first time at the start of 2024 at least five years earlier than predicted. So, while developing countries burn, global climate injustice persists. No high-emitting country has complied with the 1.5C target set by the Paris agreement. Governments in the UK and Scotland are exacerbating the crisis…
Brett McGrath, President of the Law Society of NSW, has renewed calls for a debt relief scheme to incentivise lawyers to practice in rural, regional, and remote (RRR) areas. During a visit to Lismore, which experienced a significant exodus of lawyers following the devastating floods in 2022, McGrath highlighted the urgent need for legal services…
Several of these factors contributed to the rising levels of formal insolvency appointments and distressed asset sales seen over the past year, which is likely to continue into 2024. In this article, we look back at, and think forward to, the trends and legal developments which businesses, insolvency professionals, accountants and investors need to be…
It has been 33 years since the “recession we had to have” in 1991. Fears that Australia would enter a technical recession during 2023 didnt eventuate. At the time of writing, our economy continues to still be resilient (relying on massive population growth through migration) despite ongoing decreasing consumer sentiment but another year of slow…
The involuntary bankruptcy threshold will lift from $10,000 to $20,000, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus says, giving debtors more breathing room before their creditors can launch court action. On Monday, Attorney-General Dreyfus said the federal government will introduce a suite of reforms to the bankruptcy system, bringing it up to speed with the contemporary economic landscape. In…
Key Points Bankruptcy lasts for three years but the consequences can last much longer. Bankruptcy wont release you from all your debts. Always seek the advice of a financial counsellor. Bankruptcy is a legal process that helps you regain financial control by releasing you from most of your debts. It allows you to start fresh.…
The Australian Government will introduce reforms to ensure Australia’s bankruptcy system is fairer and operates in the best interests of all Australians. Key changes include: Increasing the threshold for involuntary bankruptcies from $10,000 to $20,000, with the threshold to be indexed each year; Increasing the timeframe in which a debtor may respond to a bankruptcy…