Moffatt hits back after Pastorale goes into liquidation with alleged $387,000 tax debt

The owner of high-end Wagga restaurant Pastorale by Meccanico has hit back at critics after the company he ran entered external administration.

According to documents filed by the federal business regulator, Pastorale Pty Ltd, the entity that owns the restaurant, went into liquidation on 20 September, just six days after it closed its doors to customers.

The business allegedly owes creditors $421,000, of which $387,000 is a debt to the Australian Tax Office (ATO).

In a statement posted on Facebook, Pastorale Pty Ltd director Richard Moffatt criticised “friends” who he said “urged local media outlets to share this story”.

“Put simply, I had a crack and it didn’t work out,” he wrote.

“Like many other Aussie businesses at the moment, the economic conditions are not favourable and many of our service-based businesses are still carrying wounds from the COVID lockdown trading periods.

“To state the obvious – no staff member, small business or local suppliers are included in the creditor list. I can also verify that no personal gain has resulted because of this business process.”

According to liquidator documents seen by Region, there are no local businesses, individuals or suppliers listed as being owed money. Red Energy, Telstra, the Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer and ‘phoneword’ company 1300 Australia are the only entities, besides the ATO, listed as being owed funds by Pastorale Pty Ltd.

“There is (as there always is) a more complex story behind the figures presented publicly – namely, that they were accrued by the company over six long years in business (four of which, I was not the sole director, nor was there just one venue),” Mr Moffatt wrote.

“Administration is not a dirty word – it’s a business process that I am quite thankful is open to all Australian businesses, should the need arise. People who have a go, also deserve some protections, otherwise why would you risk going into business.

“In reality, I’m a small business owner who paid himself a minimum wage for six years, during arguably some of the toughest trading conditions of our lifetime (I won’t even mention the hours involved). I don’t have a huge house or drive a flashy car. I have a fiance who makes a decent enough income to keep us going.”

Mr Moffatt says a lot of small companies are doing it tough.

“This business didn’t work out – like thousands of other businesses in the country right now and especially after COVID. I personally know of several local and small business owners in similar situations right now because they speak to me regularly. Knowing firsthand the mental burden of your business not working out as planned, I would offer nothing but support to anyone experiencing anything even remotely similar.”

The 40-year-old businessman told Region that at this stage he was unable to provide further details on his company’s liquidation beyond his Facebook statement.

The number of Australian companies that went into administration in September was 70 per cent higher than September last year, according to data from the federal business regulator. Some 3633 businesses had an external administrator appointed to run them in the first three months of this financial year.

The cafe Meccanico Espresso + Wine was launched by Mr Moffatt with his then business partner Karl Hulford in 2019, before the duo branched out to open Pastorale by Meccanico in the Riverine Club in 2021.

Mr Moffatt became the sole director of Pastorale Pty Ltd after parting ways with Mr Hulford in 2023.

After hosting several major dinner parties and charity events, Mr Moffatt announced he was intending to sell the restaurant in February 2024.

Seven months later, he told Region the restaurant was closing its doors “on a high note”, before serving its last meals on Saturday 14 September.

Six days later, Steven Priest of accountancy firm RSM Wagga was appointed the external administrator of his company.

Mr Priest was contacted for comment.