Bankrupt childcare mogul Eddy Groves seeks permission to leave Australia BANKRUPT childcare mogul Eddy Groves is looking to relocate to Canada and might work for his wife's business there, a court heard today. Mr Groves, a co-founder of failed Brisbane-based childcare chain ABC Learning Centres, was bankrupted earlier this year. He once drove Ferraris and lived in multi-million dollar Gold Coast homes, but now has net debts of $23 million. Today, in a legal application the court heard was unusual, Mr Groves has sought Federal Court action to get permission to be able to leave Australia - even though he is not in the country at the moment. "He's overseas and he wants to know ... is he able to leave Australia," Justice John Logan told the court. Bankrupts can apply to their trustee for permission to leave Australia. If they do not get approval, then they can apply to court for permission. The court heard Mr Groves and his wife, Viryan Collins-Rubie, are currently in the US but are both residents of Canada. Carolyn Conway - lawyer for bankruptcy trustees, PPB Advisory's Mark Robinson and Andrew Scott - told the court "Mr Groves's application involves...a relocation to Canada." Other similar cases normally involved someone seeking permission to temporarily go overseas, the court heard. The court heard Ms Collins-Rubie is looking to establish a business in Vancouver, and Mr Groves has indicated she wants him to work there. Paul Lynch, acting for Mr Groves, indicated that Ms Collins-Rubie had some "anxiety" about finalising a lease for the business in Vancouver. The kind of business was not discussed. Debate today centred on whether Mr Groves and Ms Collins-Rubie would be able to phone in for a cross-examination. Justice Logan adjourned the matter to Thursday, only hours after Mr Groves and Ms Collins-Rubie are scheduled to fly in to Brisbane. The court heard Mr Groves might be held up for a short delay due to a PACE alert, which is a registration system involving split families with children. Mr Groves was scheduled to come into Australia for separate legal matters this month. One involves a dispute with his former wife Le Neve over sales of ABC Learning shares.