Bankruptcies hit 24-year low
Despite ongoing concerns about high household debt levels, the latest personal insolvency statistics suggest that Australians are doing a better job of managing their finances.The number of bankruptcies fell 8.8 per cent to 15,329 in the year to June - the lowest level recorded since 1994/95. Total personal insolvencies, including debt agreements and personal insolvency agreements, were down 15.1 per cent.The latest Australian Financial Security Authority figures show that in addition to an 8.8 per cent fall in bankruptcies last financial year, there was a 22.1 per cent fall in debt agreements and a 15.9 per cent fall in personal insolvency agreements.Total numbers were 15,239 bankruptcies, 11,549 debt agreements and 180 personal insolvency agreements.AFSA says there were falls in all states and territories. The biggest fall was in the Australian Capital Territory, where total personal insolvencies fell 24 percent, followed by Tasmania (down 22.7 per cent), the Northern Territory (down 18.5 percent), Victoria (down 18.3 per cent), and South Australia (down 17.5 per cent).New South Wales (down 14 per cent), Western Australia (down 13 per cent) and Queensland (down 12.7 per cent) lagged the national average.