The former owner of The Lobby and her latest business ventures, including specialist catering company Ten and A Half, are at the centre of a payroll tax probe.

''We have been appointed by the ACT Supreme Court and we are conducting an assessment of the various companies of the group,'' insolvency expert Henry Kazar told The Canberra Times.

''For the time being we want to keep things running as per usual to avoid any loss of jobs or loss of services.''

Mr Kazar, who is a member of the Australian Taxation Office Panel of Official Liquidators, confirmed all of Ms Wright's businesses were being examined.

Ten and A Half, which was named Canberra's Caterer of the Year in 2011, consists of an all-star culinary cast, including former Otto Ristorante head chef James Kidman and former manager of Shannon Bennett's Melbourne eatery Vue de Monde Michael Gray.

The company is responsible for the NGA kitchen and Civic restaurant Dieci e Mezzo - the Italian eatery Ms Wright owns with former Brumbies and Wallabies player Jeremy Paul. Ms Wright could not be reached for comment yesterday. Paul, her business partner, had no comment.

Ms Wright established the catering company in 2009 to serve innovative cuisine all over Canberra after selling her acclaimed waterfront Parkes restaurant, Waters Edge.

She then became the exclusive caterer of the National Gallery and picked up the reins of the Sculpture Garden Restaurant.

The entrepreneur's other catering arm, Wrights Fine Food, once managed food services for the cafeteria at Parliament House and continues to do so for the Department of Defence's Russell and Campbell Park cafes.

A message on Ten and A Half's website advises it has been suspended.

Former ACT chief minister Kate Carnell said the news of Ms Wright's business situation was ''really tragic''. ''She is a great Canberran and a great role model and mentor for many young business women over the years.''