A 16-year-old Melbourne boy was able to gamble nearly $100,000, including at suburban pubs, despite his mother desperately seeking help, a court has heard. The Melbourne magistrates court heard that when his mother discovered his gambling habits, she began a frantic mission to get him help, only to be repeatedly turned away. In April last…
Victoria’s Supreme Court of Appeal has wiped a punter’s $150,000 debt after ruling paperwork failures rendered the bets invalid. Bookmaker David McLauchlan took action against punter Allen Ng after the punter incurred hefty losses between February and April 2020. The County Court ruled in McLauchlan’s favour in 2022, ordering Ng to pay the debt and…
Last week I scored a trifecta, managing to upset people in three ways. First, for my supposed anti-immigration stance, second, for hating on Elon Musk (the bromance is still strong with some readers, even though his car company is as bad as the rest in terms of spying on drivers) and, finally, from animal lovers…
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;…
With businesses collapsing at levels not seen since 2012, Grant Thornton Australias John McInerney suggested that the small business restructuring scheme could be a more favourable option than a payment plan. He made the comments ahead of his session at the ACE24 Accounting Conference and Expo 2024, where he will unpack how accountants can help…
New research into the Small Company Administrative Rescue Process (SCARP) scheme has shown that 206 jobs have been saved so far this year as the number of businesses starting the process drops significantly. The SCARP scheme was first introduced in late 2021 to help small and micro companies who are still viable, yet insolvent, restructure…
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 Specialists, five clients…
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…
In short: Student debts will be lowered for more than three million Australians under reforms designed to stop HECS loans growing faster than wages. Loan indexation will now match whichever is lower out of the Consumer Price Index or the Wage Price Index which the government says will prevent another shock increase like last year’s 7.1 per cent…
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…