The tables and graphs below show that the Covid stimulus measures introduced have had a drastic effect on the number of insolvency and winding up procedures.

For the month of October 2020 compared to October 2019, the data indicates a significant reduction in the number of reported events in particular Winding Up Applications and Court Liquidations.

1.     Winding up Applications are down by 94%.  The ATO filed two (2) winding up applications in October 2020.  This is consistent with our understanding that during this period the ATO is more focused on business support measures than recovery procedures;

2.     Court Liquidations are down 93%.

3.     Voluntary Administrations are down 64%.

4.     Voluntary Liquidations are down 44%.

Risk Watch Essentials – October 2020

The tables below summarise data essentials captured from our daily Risk Watch publication, which provides a synopsis of the insolvency market for October 2020.

No. of Registered Liquidators in Australia as at October 2020

Registered Liquidators	Australia	NSW	VIC	QLD	WA	ACT	SA	NT	TAS
TOTAL	637	243 (38%)	160 (25%)	106 (16%)	63 (10%)	10 (2%)	45 (7%)	2 (<1%)	8 (1%)

 Winding Up applications filed with the court in October 2020

Winding Up applications	Australia	NSW	VIC	QLD	WA	ACT	SA	NT	TAS
TOTAL	25	9 (36%)	10 (40%)	5 (20%)	1 (4%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)

Analysis:
A total of 25 Winding Up applications were filed throughout Australia in October 2020, the majority of which were in Victoria (10 or 40%), New South Wales (9 or 36%), Queensland (5 or 20%) and Western Australia (1 or 47%).

Formal Appointments in October 2020

Formal Appointments	Australia	NSW	VIC	QLD	WA	ACT	SA	NT	TAS
TOTAL	361	148 (41%)	95 (25%)	65 (18%)	22 (6%)	11 (3%)	18 (5%)	0 (0%)	2 (1%)
Creditors’/Members’ Voluntary Liquidation	309	126 (41%)	82 (27%)	56 (18%)	18 (6%)	9 (3%)	16 (5%)	0 (0%)	2 (1%)
Court Liquidation	17	7 (41%)	4 (24%)	4 (24%)	0 (0%)	2 (12%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)
Voluntary Administration	35	15 (43%)	9 (26%)	5 (14%)	4 (11%)	0 (0%)	2 (6%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)

Analysis:
There were a total of 361 formal appointments throughout Australia in October 2020, the majority of which were in New South Wales (148 or 41%), Victoria (95 or 26%) and Queensland (65 or 18%).