VicForests accused of returning logged public forests as weed-infested fields. Sydney architect Ian Moore likes the feel of timber from Victoria's ash forests.
It's marketed as "Victorian Ash" or "Vic Ash" and sold by Australian Sustainable Hardwood (ASH). "Ash is a really nice timber for me to use, which is similar to American oak and European oak," he says. The blonde colour, according to Mr Moore, means it brings the warmth of wood without the orange or red hues that come with some other hardwoods. Central to Ian Moore's work is sustainability and Victorian ash is pitched as "the most environmentally friendly building product available". "When I first looked at it, you know, you read the material about sustainable logging… I would have said that it was a very good choice from a sustainable point of view," says Mr Moore. Text message scams in sights of Labor and Australian Signals Directorate.
The pandemic has provided fertile ground for an uptick in cybercrime, with scammers targeting Australians with dodgy texts and robocalls.
Key points: Labor say legitimate messages and calls are potentially "priming" consumers for scamsIt has promised tougher penalties for scammers if it is electedAustralia's top foreign cyber-intelligence agency is targeting message scams The trouble is, it can often be hard to tell the difference between a scammer and a legit message or call from an organisation you trust. Kate's abusive ex-husband racked up almost $86k of debt in her name. This is how she got help. Shortly after domestic violence survivor Kate (not her real name) left her husband, the banks started chasing her to repay debts in her name.
During the relationship, her husband was violent towards her if she did not agree to sign loan or credit applications, and her sister-in-law had pretended to be her to get credit from the banks. "I couldn't even sleep the whole night, I was having bad dreams. And I was waking up, and had a lot of bad thoughts in my mind. ACCC probes flower industry over claims customers are being scammed into buying from 'local' florists. Michelle* was excited to take a sales job with Roses Only, an online flower delivery service, but she only lasted two weeks in the job.
Key points: A whistleblower at one of Australia's largest online flower retailers said she was trained to deliberately mislead customersThe ACCC is investigating 'deceptive' practices in the flower delivery industry Roses Only rejected allegations it engaged in misleading conduct She was concerned about some of the practices she observed during that time, which she believed misled consumers.
Workers' superannuation used to prop up small businesses struggling with cashflow. Should it? Imagine you owed your employer $20,000 and you didn't pay them?
Would it be called theft? Robbery? How millions of Australian workers are being ripped off by their bosses. Bosses are failing to pay superannuation, and it's a growing crisis costing workers billions of dollars.
Annie Wang was just 19 years old when, she says, her employer failed to pay her super. He didn't pay $8,000 of her superannuation entitlements and she's still waiting to get back $3,000 of the money owed. She only realised her super was missing because she checked whether her wages were being underpaid. "I found out that the minimum wage for my age at that time was about $19 — I was [being] paid about $15," she says. "But I was a university student, and I desperately needed a job. " ICAC has taken us inside the sausage factory of grant funding — there's no shortage of fingers in this mince. This much seems clear from the first week of hearings before the Independent Commission Against Corruption: A $5.5 million grant relentlessly pursued by the former member for Wagga Wagga, Daryl Maguire, for a shooting club development in his electorate was supported by almost nobody in the bureaucracy.
Day after day, ICAC has heard evidence about how unusual this grant process was, and at how many junctures it should have failed. Michael Toohey — a senior official in the NSW Office of Sport — didn't support it. Nigel Blunden, then-premier Mike Baird's director of strategy, didn't support it. Treasury officials didn't support it. Eddie Obeid boasted about his riches in ICAC, now NSW could 'take his socks and jocks'
ABC court reporter Jamelle Wells has covered the Obeids for more than a decade.
Here, she remembers the fiery ICAC hearing where it all began. "I have spent more money than you have made in your lifetime," Eddie Obeid snarled. It was February 5, 2013, and Obeid was in the witness box at the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), being questioned by counsel assisting Geoffrey Watson. The watchdog was conducting an explosive inquiry into a coal exploration licence granted for the Obeid family farm, Cherrydale Park, in the Bylong Valley. The family made a $30 million windfall from a rigged licence tender and stood to make another $30 million until the state government cancelled the licence.
Vulnerable Australians falling victim to high-pressure solar panel sales tactics, amid calls to ban door-knocking. Vulnerable Australians, including pensioners, are being signed up to overpriced solar deals, with some being charged almost double what their system is worth.
Key points: Solar panel salespeople are door-knocking homes, trying to sell over-priced solar panelsA recent review recommended an overhaul of the way solar retailers and installers are accreditedIndustry advocates want a national ban on door knocking and unsolicited selling. 'My mum joined a dangerous 'cult', now we can't get her back' Emma (not her real name) shares her family's experience.
My mum and dad split when I was very young. We grew up with my mum and my stepdad. There were five children, so it was a big family. Tasmanian teen removed from controversial NT program run by Allan Brahminy. A Tasmanian teenager has been removed from a controversial Northern Territory program for at-risk children, after the man who runs it pocket-dialled a child protection worker during a "verbally abusive" exchange. Key points: A child protection worker said there had been a "complete breakdown in relationship" between a teen and Allan BrahminyThe teen has returned to Tasmania but his mother says his time in the NT has "ruined" himThe state government has announced it will "transition away" from the program Casey* — the mother of the 15-year-old — was contacted by the Child Safety Service (CSS) late last week and asked whether she could fly to Darwin to retrieve her son from the program run by Allan Brahminy.
In an email, seen by the ABC, a senior child protection worker said there had been a "complete breakdown in relationship" between Casey's son and Mr Brahminy. Couple to stand trial over alleged theft of more than $400,000 from Tennant Creek post office. The former manager of a remote post office and a livestock agent have been committed to stand trial on charges of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from Australia Post. Key points: Greg and Rebecca Liebelt face the Alice Springs Local Court via video link from Tennant Creek The couple face charges including aggravated theft and money laundering They have been committed to stand trial in the NT Supreme Court.
Phone scams are 'exploding' and costing vulnerable Australians millions, new data shows. If you have received more than the usual amount of suspicious calls or text messages this year, you're not alone. Key points: Australians are seeing increasing financial losses from phone-based scamsIndigenous Australians have reported a sharp increase in money lost in 2021Experts are calling for vigilance and for people to report potential fraud Phone-based scams are "exploding" and costing vulnerable Australians millions of dollars each year, according to new data from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. In 2021, phone scams have also led to a sharp increase in financial losses for Indigenous Australians.
How much money are Australians losing to phone scams? The Accomplice. A mobile phone, office toilet cubicle and $7 million. Police reveal how they cracked Australia’s biggest insider trading scam. It was audacious, brazen, clever and corrupt. Lukas Kamay was winning. He drove a BMW Roadster, he had the fancy watches, the expensive suits, the glamorous girlfriend. He was rich, making millions of dollars as a foreign exchange trader, one of the biggest in the country. JobKeeper a $6.2b 'sugar hit' for larger businesses that stayed profitable during the pandemic. About $6.2 billion in JobKeeper wage subsidies were paid to businesses with more than $10 million in turnover that did not experience a minimum 30 per cent fall in turnover in the first six months of the scheme. Key points: Analysis shows billions of dollars of the JobKeeper wage subsidy went to businesses with more than $10 million in turnover that did not experience lower revenue in first six months of pandemicSmall businesses are thankful for JobKeeper but say those firms that received the subsidy while making a profit should pay it backTreasurer Josh Frydenberg has repeatedly defended the scheme's design, saying that if it had been different, fewer jobs would have been saved Firms with more than $1 billion in sales required a 50 per cent turnover decline.
Labor, independent senator Rex Patrick and the Greens have called for a public register which shows how much firms with more than $10 million turnover received in JobKeeper, a move that the federal government has to date resisted. The 'free lunch' phase of JobKeeper ended last year, but who profited most? ATO will not recover $180 million in JobKeeper from businesses that made 'honest mistakes' when applying. Insurance giant GIO pursues Horsham couple for almost $78,000 over fire in rental property. Police traffic stop saves elderly driver from scammer claiming to be from major bank. Former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell is being sued for billions over election fraud claims. She sat down with Four Corners.
Prosecutors call for jail terms for Jason Lees and Emily Walker, who scammed businesses in money laundering ploy. Casino operator Crown plays an old business trick — using its workers as a human shields. West HQ allegedly gave cash to its own pet projects while ignoring needy local charities. Berejiklian’s ex Daryl Maguire arranged Parliament ceremony for company now convicted of $46m fraud. NT ICAC makes improper conduct findings over Darwin Turf Club grandstand grant. Inside the service station war that started over a meat pie. Inside one woman's legal nightmare from a sexual assault case. Judge throws out case against construction giant CBL despite finding 'reasonable probability' of success. NSW auditor-general finds government bought contaminated land at Camellia without a valuation. 102yo grandmother scammed out of aged care bond in $375,000 email hack. Victims of horse racing Ponzi scheme search for their missing millions.
Sunshine Coast woman charged with fraud after allegedly luring desperate renters to pay for a fake rental home. Cheryl and Faye thought they had nearly $1m invested with 'friend' Melissa Caddick. Then she went missing - ABC News. Former BlueScope Steel executive Jason Ellis sentenced for obstructing ACCC price-fixing investigation - ABC News. Perth man Craig Robert Dale charged over alleged $2.9m fraud in remote Kimberley community - ABC News. Job ads targeting migrants overwhelmingly offering below the minimum wage - ABC News. Here's how the Government is moving to detect, trace and block scam calls - ABC News. Shredded documents at centre of NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian grants controversy recovered by forensic data search - ABC News.
South Korean computer 'geek' bailed over alleged $360,000 theft from elderly Canberra woman - ABC News. Tradies frustrated by banks as business email scam costs them $51,000 - ABC News. Victorian gambling regulator in the spotlight after Crown's 'bombshell' money laundering admission - ABC News. Apple reaches $150 million settlement with US states on iPhone throttling - ABC News. ASIC acting chair says former chairman refused to implement governance changes - ABC News.
Brisbane man arrested following AFP's nine-year foreign bribery investigation involving Iraqi Oil Ministry - ABC News. How TV's Dr Brad McKay became the face of an online keto pill scam - ABC News. NSW Government bought land for three times its value for light rail project - ABC News. Caravan and motorhome scammers target Australians during the coronavirus pandemic - ABC News. Grey nomads to be paid back hundreds of thousands of dollars after claim against motorhome dealer - ABC News.
Horses for Harmony charity sold raffle tickets for Corvette but never drew a winner - ABC News. Federal Government handed almost $1m in contracts to controversial aged care executive Gary Barnier - ABC News. Sydney concert promoter Harpreet Singh Sahni confesses to $50 million cryptocurrency scam - ABC News. Perth businessman Chris Marco's alleged Ponzi scheme left investors billions short, court told - ABC News. Puppy scams cost Australians $1.3m this year. These women are fighting back. AFP arrest trio for trying to defraud coronavirus superannuation early access scheme - ABC News.
NSW Government concerned by Sydney councils failing to comply with transparency rules - ABC News. Coronavirus stimulus measures like JobKeeper are keeping zombie businesses alive, warn insolvency practitioners - ABC News. Grassroots volunteer group Locals for Metro South-West financially backed by Sydney developer - ABC News. Car buyers saddled with debt after signing up to loans they can't afford. Families pay thousands for headstones but say Darwin company Allstone NT did not deliver. Clive Palmer charged with more offences by ASIC.
The Government is facing an existential threat, but unlike coronavirus, it's completely in its control. Victorian vegetable grower paid 'vast amounts of cash' to pay illegal workers, Melbourne court told. Banks accused of failing to protect customers from billing scams by not checking account names. Scams surge as growing numbers of West Australians ripped off by fraud. The multi-million-dollar 'dummy director' scam using vulnerable Australians to rip off the tax office. Queensland Health's Metro North accused of silencing critics with culture of legal bullying. 4WD hire firm goes into liquidation as clients chase money owed amid court action. More than 400 bushfire fundraiser scams reported as well-wishers dig deep for fire relief. Christian missionaries retract claim that God TV is preventing suicide in remote Indigenous communities. The cyber pirates of the Caribbean responsible for online fraud that robs Australians of millions.
SA police officer led 'dangerous cult's' attempts to have critic criminally charged. Federal Court slaps online drug company with $10 million fine for marketing 'dangerous' products. Murray-Darling Basin Plan 'untenable' says NSW, as Inspector-General says more corruption wouldn't surprise - Politics. An extraordinary silence lingers as major parties go missing on Crown. I Cook Foods alleges Dandenong council health inspector planted slug in catering firm's kitchen. Name and shame tax evaders, says journalist behind Panama Papers. Could art forgers be targeting Australia's biggest contemporary artist? Moon landing footage would have been impossible to fake — a film expert explains why. These student renters claim they were ripped off, so they took matters into their own hands.
Pharma giant using loophole to falsely promote opioid pain relief product across Australia. How taxpayers are funding a huge corporate expansion in the Murray-Darling Basin. 'He could check everything I bought': This is what financial abuse looks like. ASIC strikes convicted Darwin fraudsters off corporate register.
Bitcoin investment scam steals tens of thousands from couple as cryptocurrency losses grow. 'No justice at all': How 50 victims of tax fraudster Richard Hogg got lumped with big ATO debts. ATO whistleblower facing 161-year prison sentence says he 'almost died from the stress' Licence to steal: The roadblock preventing fraud victims from recouping their identity. The next asbestos? What do the Monsanto trials mean for the future of Roundup. Fake booze kingpin's tax bill 'substantially greater' than $87m, report says. Corrupt contractor jailed over dealings with Ipswich City Council.
'Loom' scam lures with promises of earning quick cash through social media. Queensland line dancing scam sees retirees' lose hundreds of thousands of dollars, police say. AFP raids broker's offices as retiree loses $270k in superannuation. Millions withheld from Australian online traders as broker has licence stripped and accounts frozen. How Australian transport authorities played cat and mouse with Uber's Greyball. Man charged over alleged multi-million-dollar bogus property investment scheme. Builder suspended by Victorian authority over substandard Melbourne developments. Dodgy tradies are giving builders a bad name, industry warns. Australian author 'shattered' that his 2013 novel has resemblance to new film Yesterday.
Bestjet's former employees claim refunds were deliberately 'stalled' until customers 'hounded' staff.