AFAP BONZA MEMBERS UPDATE - LIQUIDATION
BONZA LIQUIDATION
In the 2nd Creditors meeting conducted by Hall Chadwick (as Administrator) yesterday (2 July 2024), Creditors voted for Bonza to be wound up and placed into liquidation. This ends the voluntary administration process.
The Creditors have appointed Hall Chadwick as the Liquidator.
Further information about liquidation is available via this Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) guide - https://asic.gov.au/regulatory-resources/insolvency/insolvency-for-creditors/liquidation-a-guide-for-creditors/.
EMPLOYEE ENTITLEMENTS
As discussed previously, the decision yesterday of liquidation enlivens your rights, and those of your former colleagues, to entitlements (including wages from April 2024 unpaid) from the Fair Entitlement Guarantee (FEG) Scheme administrated by the federal Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR).
Although this doesn’t undo the challenges and hardship faced, it is positive that the following entitlements can be claimed under the FEG scheme by you and other ex-Bonza employees:
- Wages/salary,
- Annual leave accrued,
- Payment in lieu of notice, and
- Redundancy.
Unfortunately, other entitlements are not paid under the FEG scheme, including,
- Superannuation,
- Allowances owing,
- Specific entitlements on termination (accrued RDO’s and qualification on termination), and
- Salary amounts above the weekly cap applied by FEG (which will impact ex Captains with Bonza).
Apart from the FEG scheme, whether there is going to be any return for you and other Creditors is not yet determined, as it will require further steps to be undertaken by the Liquidator to determine those outcomes.
Guidance on FEG is published by DEWR here - https://www.dewr.gov.au/fair-entitlements-guarantee
Further information about the scheme (including access to claim forms) can be obtained from https://www.dewr.gov.au/fair-entitlements-guarantee or through the FEG hotline
on 1300 135 040.
If you have not contacted DEWR re the FEG as yet, we encourage you to follow up via the contact details above. Please seek assistance from Hall Chadwick, DEWR or the AFAP as required.
At the same time, it is important to continue to update the ‘Proof of Debt’ information (as required) with Hall Chadwick.
COMMITTEE OF INSPECTION
The AFAP have been nominated and voted for by Creditors to remain on the Committee of Inspection (COI).
The COI will await updates from the Liquidator due to ongoing realisation of assets and as investigations continue. The steps required in liquidation are dependent on numerous matters, and the COI will provide opportunities for the AFAP to continue to request information and updates.
MEMBER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM & AFAP WELFARE REPS
A reminder that all members of the AFAP (and with AFAP approval, their immediate family too) are entitled to use the Member Assistance Program (MAP). The MAP is a short-term 24/7 counselling and advisory service, where professional assistance from psychologists trained in pilot-specific issues is available.
The contact number for MAP - 1300 307 912.
The service is confidential, and your personal information will not be discussed with anyone, including the AFAP.
Additionally, the AFAP Welfare officers for the National Pilot Council may also be of potential assistance to individual pilots that wish to discuss matters. You can find the list of AFAP Welfare representatives on the AFAP website here:
https://www.afap.org.au/membership/member-articles/welfare-services/welfare-representatives
Should you have any questions for the AFAP about any of these matters, please contact:
- James Mattner - james@afap.org.au or 0477 001 817
- Jason Newell - jason@afap.org.au or 0466 780 847