Empire director speaks out

THE director of a Gold Coast building company, which is currently under investigation by the state’s building watchdog, has vowed it “has and always will” pay subcontractors what they’re owed.

Some subcontractors have demanded payment in advance from Empire Constructions Pty Ltd since the Gold Coast Bulletin revealed the company was being investigated by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC).

The company has responded to some of the payment requests with legal letters claiming media reports about them are “false” and “sensationalist”. “Empire is not under investigation for suspected illegal phoenix activity,” one letter said.

The QBCC has confirmed this week their investigation is still ongoing, and that allegations of illegal phoenix activities have also been referred to federal regulator ASIC.

The investigation was sparked in the wake of the collapse of Queensland One Homes, which went into liquidation in July owing 133 creditors more than $3 million.

The sole director of Queensland One Homes, Paul Callender, is the husband of the sole director of Empire Constructions Pty Ltd, Amber Callender.

In a letter to creditors last week, the liquidator of Queensland One Homes said he had attempted to obtain from Mr Callender computer records, email accounts and all books and records of the company “with little return”.

Michael Caspaney told creditors he had also pursued a company related to Queensland One Homes in his quest to find their money, but that he’d had “little or no return”.

Ms Callender yesterday said: “Empire has, and always will, pay subcontractors within their trading terms”.

“Empire has experienced difficulties with some subcontractors who attempted to alter those terms following the publication of allegations about Empire in your newspaper,” she said in an email.

“Notwithstanding that Empire is continuing to work tirelessly to complete all projects.”

A meeting of Queensland One Homes creditors will be held at 5pm on September 25.