ASIC alerted to ‘irregularities’
Liquidator also eyes record keeping
THE liquidator examining the collapse of a Gold Coast property management company run by the aunt of Hollywood actor Margot Robbie has reported evidence of inadequate record keeping and “irregularities” in trust accounts to the corporate watchdog.
Robbie Robbie & Associates went into administration on April 9 with hundreds of thousands of dollars held in company trust accounts for 32 tenants and landlords including companies linked to developer Ron Bakir, accountant Scott McMurtrie and cult 1980s artist Ken Done.
Robbie Robbie & Associates’ sole director was Lyn Robbie, 58, while her husband Wayne Robbie, 61, also worked as an agent for the business.
Wayne’s brother Doug Robbie, 63, who works with Wayne in another real estate company and is father of 2018 Oscar nominee Margot, is also listed as a creditor with an unquantified amount owing. Margot Robbie has no involvement in the running of the business.
In his latest report to creditors, Morgan Lane of Worrells said it appeared the company “did not maintain adequate written records to comply with its obligations under the (Corporations) Act”.
It said he had submitted a report to ASIC which, although confidential, addressed “any suspected breaches of the Act and other offences by the director”. It said the company had “self-reported” to the Queensland Office of Fair Trading and appointed an external forensic accountant after noticing irregularities in its trust accounts.
Fair Trading, which appointed McGrath Nicol as receiver to the accounts, declined to provide an update on its investigation, saying it could impact its “ability to gather information and evidence”.
Mr Lane’s report said Ms Robbie had attributed the failure of her company to “her own ill health and inadequate working capital”.
Other creditors of Robbie Robbie include WorkCover Qld, industrial developer Polaris Coomera, a mixed martial arts academy at Burleigh, a crossfit studio at Varsity Lakes, a popular whale watching business, juice bar, gymnastics club, sandwich shop and a hairdressing salon.
Related company Wayne Robbie & Associates, registered by Wayne Robbie in October, has provided $11,000 towards funding the liquidation. The liquidator accepted, from an unnamed source, an offer of $11,000 for a 2010 Mercedes Benz CLC owned by the company.
Anyone owed rent or bond money by the company has been urged to contact the receiver Anthony Connelly on 3333 9874.