Workers from a collapsed Sydney signage company have worked around the clock to complete a critical ALP order for a nationwide supply of election-day banners.
The Roller Poster Company of Brookvale in northern Sydney shut its doors last week and went into liquidation just before the completion of a $100,000 Labor Party contract for the supply of plastic posters and banners for election-day polling places on July 2.
Liquidator Amanda Young of Jirsch Sutherland, who took control of the failed business late on Friday, said it quickly became obvious that the ALP job was a priority.
"The Labor Party order was almost complete when the business closed down so we made the decision to re-engage some of the staff to complete the job and get it out. Five staff members and some casuals have been working around the clock since the weekend and we're completing and delivering the orders state by state.
"We've now shipped orders to Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, Northern Territory and the ACT. The NSW order has been completed and is being packed today and will be shipped tomorrow." A separate company is handling the ALP contract in Victoria.
Young praised the work of the Roller Poster staff in getting the orders out.
"We couldn't have done it without them," she said. "Some of the staff have literally worked 24 hours a day to get this job completed and they've all been very cooperative. They'll be paid for the period they work for us and obviously the completion of the ALP contract will add to the asset pool, which will help them when it comes to assessing staff entitlements.
"We're also trying to get as many other orders completed as we can, especially those that are commercially significant, while at the same time we're moving ahead with trying to sell the business as it is - or, if not, we'll be looking to sell-off the company's assets, including equipment and stock. We have been contacted by a number of parties so there is already a significant level of interest."
Roller Poster, established in 1994 and owned by Tim Wilson of Manly, collapsed into liquidation late last week after landlord John Hindman cut the power and demanded $5,000 in owed rent. Wilson has been unavailable for comment.