This week's TGIF considers Kirk (in his capacity as liquidator of ARG Workforce Pty Ltd (in liq)) v Commissioner of State Revenue, in the matter of ARG Workforce Pty Ltd[2026] FCA 192(Kirk). In this case, the Federal Court (the Court) held that amounts paid to the Queensland Revenue Office (QRO) were unfair preferences.
In December 2025, the Supreme Court of Queensland delivered a judgement which probably hasn’t received the attention it deserves. In Star Recruitment Service Pty Ltd v Smith [2025] QSC 334 the court considered the proper construction of the coronavirus-era safe harbour defence in s 588GAAA of theCorporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Act).
When a company is in financial distress, creditors must consider whether to place the company into a formal external administration process. If they do so, the publicity and disruption that accompany a formal appointment may worsen an already fragile situation. Conversely, if no action is taken, the company may continue to burn cash, leaving creditors with little or no prospect of recovery.
1. What is insolvency?
Insolvency is defined in section 95A of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)(Act) as the inability of a company to pay its debts when they fall due. Australian law applies a cash-flow test rather than a balance-sheet test, meaning the inquiry does not turn on the numerical gap between assets and liabilities.
The Supreme Court of New South Wales has provided guidance as to the meaning of “true employer” for the purposes of the external administration provisions of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the Act) in In the matter of Mosaic Brands Limited (administrators appointed) (receivers and managers appointed) [2025] NSWSC 959. The decision is important for liquidators and receivers of large corporate group where there are individual trading and employing entities and funds have been recovered from circulating assets.
Introduction
The Supreme Court of New South Wales has clarified the circumstances in which a liquidator may recover deposit funds paid to a third party and the extent to which a counterparty may rely on the good-faith defence under section 588FG of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
Successful outcomes for clients seeking to obtain winding up orders against foreign companies with local agents. The case summaries below, of Re Anagram International LLC (recs and mgrs apptd) [2025] VSC 267 and the earlier matter of W Capital Advisors Pty Ltd (in its capacity as trustee for the W Capital Advisors Fund) v Mawson Infrastructure Group, Inc (NSD1395/2024), provide guidance on how parties can best position themselves for success in these circumstances.
Relevant Law
What is insolvency?
Insolvency is defined in section 95A of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)(Act) as the inability of a company to pay its debts when they fall due. Australian law applies a cash-flow test rather than a balance-sheet test, meaning the inquiry does not turn on the numerical gap between assets and liabilities.