Ex-Eagles player and wife sued for almost $5m over alleged unpaid wages, tax

A former West Coast Eagles player-turned-businessman and his wife are being sued by the tax office for almost $5 million over alleged unpaid wages, super and tax payments linked to their failed web of businesses.

The Australian Taxation Office filed separate writs in the Supreme Court of Western Australia against Cottesloe couple Andrew and Natasha Donnelly last week, claiming the pair owe director penalties accumulated between 2020 and 2026.

The writs show the tax office is seeking $2.8 million from Andrew in relation to six companies, while Natasha allegedly owes $1.8 million, linked to 10 businesses.

These include patio and shed business Profounder Factory Direct and childcare recruiter Flexicare Group. The tax office is also seeking interest and legal costs.

The pair still live in their two-storey Cottesloe family home, a five-minute walk from the beach, which Andrew bought in 2001 for $985,000 but is now worth more than $5 million.

Company documents show liquidators managing several of their collapsed businesses have struggled to contact the pair and have had to file reports to creditors with missing financial records.

Profounder Factory Direct, which owed an estimated $1.2 million to 29 creditors, was placed into liquidation by the WA Supreme Court in March last year, with Stephen Michell appointed liquidator.

In a June 2025 report to creditors, Michell alleged sole director Andrew had disclosed in a financial report that the business was sold in June 2021 for $250,000.

The liquidator said a creditor told him the business was sold to an “associated entity”, but Andrew had been “uncooperative” when asked for more information.

Michell told creditors he was investigating insolvent trading, uncommercial transactions and unfair preference payments.

“My review of the company’s books and records revealed that the company may have traded whilst insolvent for some time,” he said in the report.

Meanwhile, Flexicare Group was wound up in April 2025, also owing $1.2 million to creditors.

Andrew blamed Flexicare Group’s failure on “incompetent staff”, according to a liquidator’s report by Robert Woods.

But, in his report, Woods said he suspected the business failed due to “poor financial control including lack of records, poor strategic management of the business and inadequate cash flow or high cash use”.

The liquidator said the company had disclosed no money owing to employees, but his investigation found outstanding entitlements of more than $35,000.

He told creditors he was preparing a report for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission outlining potential breaches by the directors, including a possible failure to keep financial records for seven years from May 2018.

The Donnellys were contacted for comment.