On 23 March 2020, the Australian Parliament passed the Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus Act No. 22 of 2020 (the Act), which is designed to provide an economic response to the effect, on Australia, of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world by stimulating and supporting economic activity.

In relation to the Australian insolvency regime the Act made some significant changes to the relevant laws as follows.

Temporary relief for financially distressed individuals and businesses

An edited version of this article first appeared in Smart Company. By Special Counsel Katherine Payne and partners Mark Petrucco and

The BLG Monthly Update is a digest of recent developments in the law which Neil Guthrie, our National Director of Research, thinks you will find interesting or relevant – or both.

In summary

In our previous alert we discussed how Justice Markovic in the Federal Court of Australia had granted the administrators of retailer Colette Group relief from personal liability for rent in respect of 93 stores.  

However, for this to happen it will require the licensing regime to embrace new thinking.

For several years I have been advocating for unique thinking to apply in respect of how the licensing regime should address situations where contractors are experiencing financial distress or are insolvent.

This week’s TGIF considers the decision in Strawbridge (Administrator), in the matter of CBCH Group Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) (No 2) [2020] FCA 472 where the Federal Court made orders absolving the administrators of retailer Colette from personal liability for rent for a two week period, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The impact of COVID-19 on businesses will undoubtedly require directors to consider formal restructuring and insolvency options, including the appointment of administrators. Administrators are faced with the challenge of assessing a company’s options and forming a recommendation in an era of high market uncertainty. Both proposing a holding Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA) and extending the convening period are being discussed as options to provide administrators with more time to undertake these tasks. In this article we consider the scope and limitations of each strategy.

Directors of Australian companies face significant personal monetary – and potential criminal and adverse professional – consequences if they allow the company to trade whilst insolvent.

Australian insolvent trading laws are harsher, and more frequently utilised to prosecute directors personally, than in many other jurisdictions including in the US and the UK.

Accordingly, frequent assessment of a company’s solvency by its directors is crucial, particularly in financially difficult times, as are active steps to address any potential insolvency.

As the Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association (ARITA) has recently noted, the insolvency profession has been under significant strain in recent years and may not be equipped for a bushfire and COVID-19 led surge in liquidations, particularly assetless liquidations. Liquidators may take some comfort that, notwithstanding the increased scrutiny and potential criticism, courts will support their appointees.

In the current climate, many businesses will suffer from financial difficulties, though this does not necessarily mean that the businesses are insolvent. There are a number of indicators that may suggest that a company is insolvent, rather than just suffering temporary financial issues. Whether you are a creditor, a company director or other stakeholder, you should be aware of these indicators and what a company’s insolvency could mean for you.

What Does it Mean to be Insolvent?