The Australian Government has announced that the operation of temporary COVID-19 relief measures for businesses in the hope of aiding distressed companies and preventing further economic breakdown will be extended until 31 December 2020.[1]
On 22 March 2020, the Federal Government announced a raft of proposed temporary changes to insolvency laws which increased the threshold and time limit for compliance for statutory demands and bankruptcy notices (see our original article). The temporary measures also provided relief for directors from any personal liability for trading while insolvent.
The Federal Government today announced the temporary six-month moratorium from insolvent trading liability has been extended until 31 December 2020. Temporary changes to statutory demands and bankruptcy notices requiring a debt of $20,000 and allowing six months to pay the amount demanded will also be extended to this date. These measures had otherwise been due to expire later this month.
The announcement gives much-needed clarity and certainty for the remainder of 2020.
The Federal Government will extend the temporary relief measures for financially distressed individuals and businesses to 31 December 2020.
The measures include:
1. The period within which a statutory demand must be complied is extended from 21 days to 6 months.
2. The minimum amount for a statutory demand is $20,000
3. The period within which a bankruptcy notice must be complied is extended from 21 days to 6 months
4. The minimum amount for a bankruptcy notice is $20,000
In March, we reported that, as part of a suite of legislative and economic responses to COVID-19 the Commonwealth Government had announced a range of temporary amendments to certain insolvency laws. The amendments were aimed at temporarily amending insolvency laws, affecting in turn corporate governance, and directors’ duties.
On 7 September 2020, the federal government announced that the temporary changes to the creditors' statutory demand and insolvent trading laws have been extended to 31 December 2020.
Key takeouts
In March 2020, the Commonwealth Government's early responses to the economic consequences of the COVID-19 included temporarily suspending and changing important elements of Australia's insolvency laws. These temporary changes were due to expire on 25 September 2020. The government has now announced that this period will be extended to 31 December 2020.
The Government has implemented significant temporary measures to ensure that our insolvency laws and processes do not expose companies and individuals to undue risk. This will hopefully avoid a potentially unprecedented wave of insolvencies.
Key takeouts
The Government announced a six month suspension of insolvent trading laws.
The relevant debts will still be due and payable by the company in the normal way.
Egregious cases of dishonesty and fraud will still be subject to criminal penalties.
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Key takeaways
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