News Brief: English
Summary
A digital marketing agency, Zib Digital, led by former AFL footballer Chris Knights, entered administration, wiping millions in debt. It reopened shortly after under a new company name (Zib Holdings) with the same leadership, branding, and operations, leaving former staff with unpaid entitlements and raising concerns about “legal phoenixing.”
Key Points
- Debt Wiped: The insolvent Zib Digital owed approximately $4.5 million to staff, suppliers, and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
- New Entity: Days after administration, a new company (Zib Holdings) was registered, operating from a nearby location with the same name, logo, and clients.
- Staff Impact: About one-third of staff lost jobs. Many are owed nearly $450,000 in entitlements, with some directed to claim taxpayer-funded Fair Entitlements Guarantee (FEG) payments.
- “Legal Phoenixing”: The process involves selling the old company’s assets at market value to a new entity to shed debts lawfully. Unions criticize it as “legal trickery” that disadvantages workers.
- Calls for Reform: Unions are urging law changes to prevent companies from avoiding worker entitlements and leaving taxpayers to cover costs.
- Sponsored Worker Loss: Some employees, like a sponsored worker from the Netherlands, are ineligible for FEG and face significant unpaid wages.
新闻简报：中文
摘要
由前澳式足球联盟（AFL）球星克里斯·奈茨领导的数字营销机构Zib Digital进入破产管理程序，抹去了数百万债务。随后，该公司以新公司名称（Zib Holdings）在原址附近重新开业，领导层、品牌和业务均未改变，但导致前员工被拖欠应得薪酬，引发了关于“合法凤凰公司”操作的争议。
关键点
- 债务被抹去：破产的Zib Digital欠员工、供应商和澳大利亚税务局（ATO）约450万澳元。
- 新实体成立：进入破产管理程序几天后，一家新公司（Zib Holdings）注册成立，在附近地点以相同的名称、标识和客户继续运营。
- 员工受影响：约三分之一员工失业。许多人被拖欠近45万澳元的应得薪酬，部分人被指引申请纳税人资助的公平权益保障（FEG）计划。
- “合法凤凰公司”操作：该过程涉及将旧公司资产按市场价值出售给新实体，从而合法摆脱债务。工会批评这是损害工人利益的“法律伎俩”。
- 呼吁改革：工会呼吁修改法律，防止公司逃避支付员工应得薪酬并将成本转嫁给纳税人。
- 担保签证员工损失：部分员工，如一位来自荷兰的担保签证持有者，不符合FEG申请资格，面临大量未付工资。
Original Article Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-22/zib-digital-claims-insolvency-wipes-debt-of-millions/105626186