Councillor self-defends $7.1m lawsuit after lawyer quits hours before court
Andrew McCullagh, a Northern Midlands councillor, stood before court alone after his lawyer withdrew, defending a $7.1m loan default case.
Andrew McCullagh appeared in Tasmania's Supreme Court on Monday with no legal representation after his counsel quit. McCullagh had flown back from Cambodia only hours earlier, arriving at Hobart Airport nine minutes before the hearing started.
McCullagh said he expected the case to settle and had not prepared a defence. The judge ordered the case to proceed despite McCullagh telling the judge he would be completely lost without a lawyer.
The dispute stems from McCullagh's purchase of a historic supermarket in Swansea for about $2.6 million in 2022, funded by a loan from Newcastle businessman Wayne Sanders. McCullagh has only repaid $200,000 and receivers were called in 2024 to begin selling the property.
The outstanding debt has grown to $7.1 million with penalty interest now set at 18 per cent a year.
- Approximately 2.6 million dollars
- Purchase price
- 200,000 dollars
- Amount repaid
- 7.1 million dollars
- Outstanding debt
- 18 percent per year
- Penalty interest rate
Why it mattersA councillor faces losing a major piece of local heritage property and owing millions because of a loan dispute.
AustraliaThe Swansea supermarket, a historic 1838 building, is in receivership and being sold to cover the debt; the dispute affects Tasmania's property and lending landscape.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 9 d ago
