Liquidators probe operations of Burgertory fast-food chain amid tax debts

Several businesses under Melbourne fast-food chain Burgertory, founded by businessman and pro-Palestinian activist Hash Tayeh, have been ordered into liquidation over mounting tax debt.

Liquidators are probing the operations of Victorian fast-food chain Burgertory. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Liquidators are probing the operations of Melbourne fast-food chain Burgertory, founded by high profile businessman and pro-Palestinian activist Hash Tayeh, with multiple companies declared insolvent amid mounting tax debt.

A string of businesses that launched stores across Melbourne, including in Southbank, Prahran, Niddrie, Coburg North, Richmond, Caroline Springs, Box Hill, Boronia and Black Rock, have had liquidators appointed in recent weeks.

The companies in liquidation, that all list Mr Tayeh as their founding director, are no longer operating the businesses.

They were placed into liquidation by the Federal Court of Australia after the Australian Tax Office pursued winding-up orders against the companies over unpaid debts.

Winding up notices are usually issued by creditors of a company in order to enforce the payment of a debt.

If the debt is found legitimate and a company is unable to pay, the business is usually placed into liquidation by the court.

The companies in liquidation, that all list Mr Tayeh as their founding director, are no longer operating the businesses.

The tax office had previously taken Mr Tayeh to County Court in February this year over $1m in debt allegedly accumulated by a dozen companies that he was formerly the director of.

The ATO alleged the businesses had not paid the full amount they owed in withholding tax on employee wages, superannuation contributions and GST at various times while Mr Tayeh was a director, according to court documents seen by News Corp.

Mr Tayeh previously told the media that it wasn’t a “tax issue” and instead “a campaign of targeted harassment against (him)”.

Insolvency expert from Pitcher Partners Andrew Yeo has been appointed liquidator to 13 related Burgertory businesses in June and July, including entities Hash Enterprises and Hash Investments.

A Pitcher Partners spokesperson told News Corp that Mr Yeo had been advised that each of the companies were no longer operating any businesses.

The Caulfield Burgertory restaurant was torched in November 2023.

“Furthermore, it has also been disclosed to the liquidator that there are other entities currently operating the businesses, however the details of these parties have not yet been disclosed to the liquidator.

“The liquidator is continuing his investigations in this regard.”

Mr Yeo said he was still in the early phases of investigations into the companies.

“Given I have only just been appointed to many of the entities and my investigations are currently at a preliminary stage, I am unable to comment further on the nature or quantum of any outstanding debts, or the identities of other creditors of the entities,” he said.

The businessman has been a prominent member of the pro-Palestinian movement in Melbourne.

Police charged Mr Tayeh in March with four counts of “using insulting words in public” for allegedly stating “all Zionists are terrorists” during a rally in May last year.

Mr Tayeh addressing protesters outside the Coburg North Burgertory. Picture: Olivia Jenkins

Mr Tayeh previously told media outside court in April that he was fighting the charges – saying the legal action against him had provided his community “a platform to expose the truth and to show the world the ugly face of the Zionist ideology”.

“We will not cower. We will not be intimidated. We must win this case and, by the will of God, we will win this case,” he said at the time.

Mr Tayeh’s family home and Caulfield shopfront have also been targeted by arsonists in recent years.

A molotov cocktail was thrown at his house in Templestowe Lower in April last year while the Caulfield Burgertory restaurant was torched in November 2023.

Burgertory was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Liquidators probe operations of Burgertory fast-food chain amid tax debts