Whyalla Ports Pty Ltd - Voluntary Administration

Whyalla Ports Pty Ltd, a GFG Alliance subsidiary which previously operated the Whyalla port, has been placed into voluntary administration by its parent following a dispute over the ownership of the port.

The company was subject to litigation commenced by Mark Mentha, Sebastian Hams, Michael Korda and Lara Wiggins of KordaMentha, the administrators of OneSteel Manufacturing, who took the position that the port was an asset of OneSteel (another GFG Alliance subsidiary which operated the steelworks) rather than Whyalla Ports.

In May, the state government introduced legislation to clarify that the port was owned by OneSteel Manufacturing, which GFG Alliance said left it with no choice but to put Whyalla Ports into administration.

Michael Brereton, Sean Wengel and Rashnyl Prasad of William Buck were appointed administrators on 6 June.