Queensland One Homes director Paul Callender claims there was “no wrongdoing” in collapse

THE director of collapsed builder Queensland One Homes has spoken for the first time about his company’s devastating collapse, saying the situation is “all fabricated”. Here’s what else he had to say about the failure which left $6m in debts.

THE bankrupt director of collapsed builder Queensland One Homes has spoken for the first time about his company’s devastating collapse, saying the situation is “bulls***” and “all fabricated”.

Paul Callender said allegations the company was trading insolvent for more than a year before it failed owing debts of more than $6 million were untrue and that the trouble had “a disastrous impact” on his life.

“My life has been destroyed,” he said.

Paul Callender and a friend enjoy an Australia Day break at the Callenders' waterfront holiday home on the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Photo: Supplied

In a submission to the Supreme Court, liquidator Michael Caspaney named “a commercially unrealistic business model” and “a systematic drawing down of the company’s liquid assets in favour of related parties” had caused the insolvency.

The court was told important company records had been water damaged when computers were left in the back of a ute and that phone records were lost by the previous liquidator.

Assets worth more than $7 million belonging to Mr Callender, his wife Amber and other companies linked to the pair were frozen after the liquidator found the company had likely been trading insolvent as early as March 31, 2016.

GET A NEW TABLET WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE GOLD COAST BULLETIN

Amber Callender and Paul Callender enjoyed an Australia Day break at their holiday home on the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Photo: Supplied

Mr Callender said there was nothing wrong with Q1’s finances.

“My accountant’s been through it that many times with the QBCC and with the liquidator, and we more than meet the financial requirements for the last three years for Q1,” he said.

“There was never any wrongdoing.”

Mr Caspaney’s investigation found emails and other evidence that actions were taken to change contracts and display home signage from Queensland One Homes to Empire Constructions weeks before the company collapsed.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission referred allegations of phoenix activities to corporate regulator ASIC.

Mr Callender, speaking from a site he was working on for his new company Phoenix Rural Fencing, said he welcomed the public examination announced last year that will see him and others questioned in the Supreme Court over their role in the company’s downfall.

“I welcome it because then the truth will finally come out that I haven’t done anything wrong,” he said.

Queensland One Homes director Paul Callender on site at an Empire Constructions build last month. Photo: Supplied

Mr Callender said the company hadn’t failed because of financial mismanagement on his part, but because money had been stolen.

“There’s a whole heap of reasons why (it failed). Someone steals hundreds of thousands out of your account, the ATO garnisheed $800,000 — I’ve already put over a million dollars of my own money into the company — you don’t report any of that in the media,” he said.

“You guys have just fabricated a whole heap of bulls***.

“If you actually knew the truth and actually done some proper investigating and actually look at the facts ... you’d actually realise that I haven’t done anything wrong.”

Mr Callender could not specify what aspects of the story were not true.

“Not right now because I’m a bit busy putting up a fence,” he said.

“There’s a whole heap that’s not true.

“Put yourself in my shoes. It’s obviously destroyed my life.”

Originally published as Queensland One Homes director Paul Callender claims there was “no wrongdoing” in collapse