Personal insolvency stats unveiled for October, September quarter

Of the personal insolvencies recorded over the month, 601 were bankruptcies, 498 were debt agreements, 17 were personal insolvency agreements and no insolvent deceased estates.

From these numbers, 16 new temporary debt protections were also recorded, which AFSA outlined as a measure that allowed individuals 21 days of relief from unsecured creditor enforcement to allow time to seek advice or consider insolvency options.

The data revealed the top three most common employment industries of an individual entering personal insolvency were construction, healthcare and social assistance, and other services.

“In October, 318 individuals entering personal insolvency were also involved in a business including sole traders, partners, or company directors. This is a decrease from 323 in September 2025,” Tim Beresford, AFSA chief executive, said.

Breaking the data down on a national scope, NSW was the state with the highest number of personal insolvencies at 364, followed by Queensland at 258 and Victoria at 244.

On the lower end of the scale, Western Australia recorded 89, South Australia 73, Tasmania 33, the ACT had 20, while the Northern Territory only recorded four.

Results were also released for the September quarter 2025, which reflected an increase compared to the September quarter 2024.

Over the three months, there were 3,524 new personal insolvencies, which was a 6.6 per cent increase from September 2024.

Of these numbers, 1866 were bankruptcies, 1585 were debt agreements, 66 were personal insolvency agreements and seven were insolvent deceased estates.

Of the 3,524 new insolvencies in the September quarter 2025, 1,036 personal insolvencies were business-related, up from 924 in the September quarter 2024.

“The September quarter 2025 shows another moderate increase in personal insolvencies. This moderate upward trend has appeared in the past two quarters, reflecting ongoing cost-of-living pressures on individuals and businesses,” Beresford said.

“We continue to see an increase in business-related personal insolvencies compared to previous years, although in line with the June 2025 quarter. However, personal insolvencies remain at historically low levels overall.”

Over the quarter, personal insolvencies increased in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory, and the ACT, while numbers dropped in NSW and Tasmania, compared to the same quarter the previous year.

“We continue to see an increase in business-related personal insolvencies compared to previous years, although in line with the June 2025 quarter. However, personal insolvencies remain at historically low levels overall.”