Australia’s insolvency landscape continues to reflect widespread financial strain. This fortnight, 865 new external appointments were recorded, highlighting deep & persistent pressure across key sectors.
Our analyst Noah Francis breaks down the latest ASIC data by state and sector.
📊 National Snapshot
Of the 865 appointments, 511 were liquidations: 361 Creditors’ Voluntary, 149 Court-ordered, and 1 provisional. Restructuring appointments totalled 216 – 74 Restructuring Plans and 142 Small Business Restructurings – showing continued uptake of turnaround tools. Administrator appointments held at 65, with 35 receiverships. The data shows a gradual shift from crisis response to early intervention.
📍 State-by-State View
NSW led with 370 appointments (43%), followed by Victoria (249), Queensland (131), WA (53), and SA (38). The remaining 24 came from ACT, Tasmania, and NT. In NSW, construction, hospitality, and professional services remain hardest hit.
🏗️ Sectors Under Pressure
🔨 Construction: 250 appointments – 125 CVLs, 53 SBRs, 37 Court Liquidations, and 15 Restructuring Plans. Margin erosion, delays, and contract disputes persist.
🍽️ Accommodation & Food Services: 129 appointments (58 CVLs, 25 Restructuring Plans, 24 SBRs), with pressure on cafés and hospitality – but restructuring interest is rising.
🛍️ Retail Trade: 66 appointments across food, auto, and general stores. Though wind-ups dominate, more are exploring restructuring options.
🚚 Transport & Warehousing: 55 mostly small operators, likely affected by fuel costs and tight margins.
💼 Professional & Admin Services: 50+ appointments, consultants and contractors likely hit by project delays and leaner client budgets.
📌 Western Australia Focus
WA saw 53 appointments, mostly in construction, hospitality, retail, and personal services. Most active WA firms:
🔹Mackay Goodwin (7)
🔹Auxilium Partners (6)
🔹Worrells (5)
🔹DVT Group & Restructure Now (4 each)
🔹Hall Chadwick & Cor Cordis (3 each)
FYTD, WA Insolvency Solutions, Mackay Goodwin, RSM & KordaMentha lead state-wide within WA, with construction, mining services, and hospitality under pressure.
🔮 Restructuring Momentum Builds
This fortnight saw 74 Restructuring Plans and 142 SBRs lodged nationally. Construction led with 68, followed by hospitality (49) and professional services (19). More directors are stepping in earlier, backed by Safe Harbour advice to preserve value.
