Members Alliance’s Richard Marlborough and wife Deborah split, court documents reveal

THE man behind the $40m Members Alliance collapse has split from his wife. The couple now face financial ruin, like many clients of what was one of Australia’s largest property investment businesses.

EXCLUSIVE

THE man behind the massive Members Alliance corporate collapse has split from his wife.

The couple now face financial ruin, just like many clients of what was one of Australia’s largest property investment businesses.

The separation of Richard and Deborah Marlborough is revealed in court documents which also show the couple has been given permission to liquidate their multi-million-dollar Gold Coast property portfolio.

A group of about 30 Members Alliance companies have been in liquidation since 2016 with debts of more than $40 million, most of which is owed to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

Richard Marlborough and Members Alliance’s other directors are facing criminal fraud charges including “dishonestly causing a financial detriment to persons investing in properties”.

MORE: How the Marlborough family went from Ferraris to corporate failure

MORE: X Factor host Luke Jacobz faces losing $100K loan to Members Alliance family

Richard Marlborough is seen leaving the police watch house in Brisbane in February. Picture: AAP

Mrs Marlborough has not been charged with any offence, although the Australian Securities and Investments Commission has alleged in Queensland Supreme Court proceedings that a company of which she is sole director and shareholder used a $100,000 loan from former X Factor host and Home and Away star Luke Jacobz “in furtherance of unlawful phoenix activity”. ASIC has also alleged the company’s books were a work of fiction.

An affidavit by Mrs Marlborough’s accountant in response to that ASIC action has exposed the demise of the Hope Island couple’s marriage and the state of her personal finances.

The accountant says: “I am informed by Mrs Marlborough, and believe, that she is unemployed and does not have any professional qualifications, skills or experience; she is currently looking for employment and other opportunities to increase her income; she recently formally separated from her husband, Mr Marlborough and she plans to reside in Sydney and rent a room in a share house.”

CBA has required she make monthly repayments of $4000 on her credit card, the accountant says.

The Marlboroughs and their son Braiden at his 2011 engagement party. Picture: Facebook

In June, the court ordered that Deborah and Richard Marlborough could only sell their four properties — worth a combined $3.6 million — if ASIC was kept informed and the net proceeds were paid to the court.

It does not appear that the family home has been listed for sale yet. The four-bedroom property is said to be worth about $1.6 million. The Marlboroughs also own the neighbouring block — on which a practice golf green and bunker have been built — as well as the next block.

An April letter by Richard Marlborough’s lawyers which was filed with the court suggests the pair are still living together at the property.

“Our client instructs that Mrs Marlborough, as his spouse, has permitted our client to live in the family home … at Hope Island since 4 August 2017 without charge, up to and pending the sale of the home.”

Richard Marlborough exits his Rolls Royce at the family’s Hope Island home in February. Picture: Queensland Police Service

Richard Marlborough recently declared bankruptcy, owing the ATO $26.5 million.

A Rolls Royce Wraith he bought in 2014 with a $680,000 loan was repossessed in April and expected to be auctioned for about $350,000 — less than the amount owing on the vehicle.

Mrs Marlborough recently sold her Porsche Boxster and Mercedes Benz SUV, which concerned ASIC because at the time it had no oversight.