Oh sure, it sounds like the life of Riley.
CBD's favourite bankrupt Nathan Leslie Tinkler is living it up in New York as we speak – scrambling to that job interview that was meant to take place on February 1, before his trustee so rudely refused permission for him to travel.
![Nathan Tinkler has his sights set on a new job in the mining world.](/web/20170209154144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/p/v/x/r/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gu9171.png/1486646593017.jpg)
And then he is meant to be on his way to Honolulu, Hawaii, to look after the kids for a bit while his ex takes a break. But don't for a second think it has been easy going for our former coal baron.
CBD got hold of the recent court decision, which overturned the earlier travel ban, and it has some interesting details on how Tinkler – who looks likely to stiff creditors for most of the $544 million he owes them – has been on the receiving end of some rough financial treatment.
![A supplied image of the new hotel and apartment complex to be built by Crown.](/web/20170209154144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/8/y/2/7/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gu9171.png/1486646593017.jpg)
It appears he got stiffed by an employer last year, Oceltip Coal 2 Pty Ltd.
The worst part is one of Oceltip's directors is none another than his dad, Leslie Tinkler.
According to the court documents, Tinkler jnr entered an employment agreement with Oceltip in April/May last year, giving him a salary of $120,000 a year, including super.
In June, Tinkler's trustee issued an income assessment based on this salary, and the subsequent income contribution liability that was due to be paid to his creditors – including the ex-wife who is owed $11 million.
![Incoming Crown chairman John Alexander said Crown would remain one of Australia's ''most valuable tourism assets''.](/web/20170209154144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/b/j/x/9/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gu9171.png/1486646593017.jpg)
In August, Tinkler advised his trustee that a contractual dispute had prevented Oceltip from paying his wages.
In January, when Tinkler first made this application to travel to the job interview in New York, his solicitors – yes he can still afford lawyers – advised the trustee that he "has not been paid any amount in his capacity as employee of Oceltip" and that he had been unemployed since September 30 last year.
![Illustration: John Shakespeare](/web/20170209154144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/9/i/g/u/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gu9171.png/1486646593017.jpg)
A letter from Les, on behalf of Oceltip, confirmed that his son's employment with the company ended on that date.
Les could have at least offered Nathan 0.2c in the dollar to settle any money owed from his employment – that is essentially what Nathan was offering his creditors to escape bankruptcy last year.
![Treasurer Scott Morrison with a lump of coal during question time.](/web/20170209154144im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/9/9/1/p/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gu9171.png/1486646593017.jpg)
At least his dear old dad is coughing up the funds for Tinkler's current trip.
Crowns and Towers
Some people might be struggling to understand why James Packer's Crown Resorts is building the $1.75 billion Queensbridge Hotel Tower on Melbourne's Southbank.
It might help if CBD explained that the most important appendage of the project is the "new sculptural pedestrian link", which will join the lobby of the new hotel to the nearby Crown casino.
It is the first major announcement from Crown's new executive chairman John Alexander. He has taken over this month from Rob Rankin as the company moves its focus from international expansion to sweating his Australian assets for a better financial return.
The interesting bit is whether Crown and its partner Schiavello Group will still be able to offload the 700-plus luxury apartments which form part of the project given its most significant target market – Chinese high rollers – may feel a bit shy about splashing cash in any proximity to a Crown casino at the moment.
While Alexander wields his razor, Packer is understood to be overseeing the Queensbridge development and Sydney's Crown.
Down at the Forum
Reporting season, and the weather, are not taking all the fun out of February.
The A50 Forum – Australia's mini-Davos – kicked off on Thursday night with our avowedly non-humorous Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe presiding over the welcome dinner at Quay Restaurant for some of the world's wealthiest investors.
Government heavy hitters include ministers Scott Morrison, Steven Ciobo, Josh Frydenberg, Kelly O'Dwyer, and Arthur Sinodinos. APRA chair Wayne Byres will also be attending the forum on Friday at the Opera House, along with very popular Treasury secretary John Fraser, and ACCC chairman Rod Sims.
If these global investors are lucky, ScoMo might bring the lump of coal he brought for show and tell in Parliament on Thursday. His fellow party members dutifully patted and petted it.
"This is coal. Don't be afraid," he says waving it about. Wouldn't you love to see their reaction.
Also working the room will be a big list of chief executives like AMP's Craig Meller, QBE's John Neal, Transurban's Scott Charlton, Woolworths chief Brad Banducci and Fortescue's Nev Power.
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Got a tip? ckruger@fairfaxmedia.com.au
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