EJ Garrett’s Eidsvold film production company in liquidation

A prolific filmmaker’s media company has gone into liquidation with a six-figure debt two months after its latest documentary was celebrated at an international film festival. 

A media company owned by a successful Burnett filmmaker has gone into liquidation with more than $122,000 owing in unpaid taxes.

Liquidators Revive Financial was appointed to Burnett River Media Pty Ltd, an Eidsvold-based media production company owned by documentary filmmaker Ernest John Garrett, on October 30.

EJ Garrett is a prominent Indigenous filmmaker and documentarian in the Burnett and southeast Queensland, with his docu-series about renowned Burnett-born radio presenter and Indigenous rights activist Tiga Bayles called Rebel With A Cause recently featured in the Melbourne International Film Festival.

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Documents provided to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission show the company owes $122,782 to the Australian Taxation Office, and more than $41,000 in unpaid superannuation.

There is more than $280,000 owing to the company, with around half due to unpaid invoices and the remainder owed to Mr Garrett.

EJ Garrett's documentary about Burnett-born radio presenter and Indigenous rights activist Tiga Bayles was featured at the 2023 Melbourne International Film Festival in August.

Mr Garrett has been engaged in numerous projects including video production for the Queensland Government’s First Nations Children’s Online Report, website design for businesses and festivals and documentaries for NITV/SBS.

Mr Garrett said he was the sole employee of Burnett River Media, but declined to comment on the status of invoices owing to the company and whether this contributed to the company’s financial difficulties.

The company lists only $5500 in fixed assets including a car, camera equipment including a drone and two computers.

Burnett River Media was established in 2011 as Jetzak Pty Ltd, changing to its current name in August 2022.

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The address registered with ASIC has Burnett River Media located in Ipswich, but the company’s website gives an address at Moreton St, Eidsvold in the North Burnett region.