Gore back to face music

Developer returns to Coast, two years after being charged with fraud

FRESH from returning to Australia to face fraud charges, twice-bankrupt property developer Craig Gore has unloaded on the billionaire British Lord who took over his former Gold Coast building company.

QNV Constructions’ building licence was suspended by the QBCC in January after it made an early exit from the lease of its former headquarters at Siganto Dr, Hel- ensvale. The building regulator said QNV had failed to pay subbies and suppliers at least $174,000 and had failed to comply with a financial audit.

QNV is owned by Mayfair Ltd, a company controlled by British Lord Michael Ashcroft, a controversial former conservative politician.

Mayfair, incorporated in the Caribbean tax haven of Belize, took over QNV and a raft of other companies operated by Mr Gore in 2008.

Today, almost two years after he was charged, Mr Gore (pictured) faces 12 counts of fraud unrelated to QNV, involving obtaining $800,000 from self-managed superannuation fund investors.

He also faces three counts of managing a company, in 2013 and 2014, when he was disqualified from being a company director due to being bankrupt.

Mr Gore owed $282 million to creditors when he went bankrupt in late 2012 after he defaulted on a personal insolvency agreement with debts of $495 million.

Mayfair were among those lining up to be paid, alleging it was owed $152 million, a claim Mr Gore denied.

Mr Gore said Mayfair had bought into “a golden goose” with QNV, which he said had been building “1000 properties a year” for a decade.

“When I left QNV it was one of the most profitable building companies in Australia,” he said.

“I find it hard to believe Mr Ashcroft can’t find $170,000 for the little guy.”

He said he hadn’t spoken to Lord Ashcroft in six to seven years and that “it wouldn’t be a pleasant conversation if I did”.

QNV’s public relations firm declined to answer questions yesterday.

Mr Gore said he had arrived back to the Gold Coast from Sweden on Monday and that he was “very keen” to have the fraud matter dealt with.

“The media have made more of it than what it is,” he said.

“The regulator (ASIC) drives a narrative for a purpose and I don’t think the strength of their case is nearly as strong as they think it is.

“I’ve lost faith in the justice system in this country, and the regulator. The whole process has taken a serious toll on my reputation and my name.”