ASOUTHERN Highlands transport firm is among several parties chasing a former Goulburn steel operation over allegedly unpaid invoices. Owners of Braemar based T&G Kelly’s Couriers Rowena and Tony Kelly claim Mass Steel Australia Pty Ltd owes them $20,790, plus legal costs.
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“We can’t afford this,” Mrs Kelly told the Post.
‘We’re a family company and we have bills to pay too. It’s giving us a bad name because in the 20 years we’ve been in business, we’ve always been able to meet our commitments.”
Kelly’s transported components made at the Mass Steel’s Goulburn outlet and others picked up from Port Kembla, to Queensland. Beams and other parts were taken in containers in up to 10 loads between July and October last year, Mrs Kelly said. Mass Steel was supplying components for the Mackay Hospital redevelopment, overseen by a large construction company.
“We thought we’d won the jackpot when we found out we’d be taking all these loads to Queensland,” Mrs Kelly said.
“(Mass Steel) paid and we thought that was wonderful. But we’ve had to chase them for the rest of the money and now we feel they’ve used and abused us.”
Mass Steel honoured $23,500 worth of work, but the payments stopped last January, Mrs Kelly said.
Mass Steel Australia’s managing director Rohan Arnold disputed the Kellys’ invoices. “They have taken action, which they can, but we’ll make the appropriate defences,” he said.
The Kellys maintained they telephoned and emailed company general manager David Campbell and Mr Arnold numerous times asking for payment. Finally, one month ago they commenced legal action.
Last week they discovered the Goulburn operation shut shop.
“We have truck payments, fuel and staff to pay,” Mrs Kelly said.
The couple have taken up the matter with Hume MP Alby Schultz, who has also fielded former employees’ complaints.
Goulburn Hydraulic and Plant Repairs confirmed it has taken out a court summons to reclaim an alleged $3000 debt. Director Sharon Shorrock said her Bradfordville business repaired a forklift for Mass Steel after-hours one day last February.
“We chased them every single day for three months (before issuing the summons),” Mrs Shorrock said.
She said Mass Steel didn’t have an account with her business and paid by credit card for other work. She rang the business for the credit card details following the forklift repairs but despite promises, these were not forthcoming, Mrs Shorrock claimed. The summons, which the business instigated six weeks ago, was issued to Mass Steel Pty Ltd.
However, Mrs Shorrrock said Mr Arnold wrote to her stating she had summonsed the wrong company; it should have been Mass Australia Pty Ltd, which was the Goulburn operation. Shortly after the correct documentation was sent, Mass Steel put its workers off. Mr Arnold said he was also aware of this action and would defend the matter. He declined comment on overall debt, saying it was a company financial matter and was not appropriate to detail.
