Five people arrested in Victoria over alleged drug and gun trafficking syndicate links – 9 May 2025
Police have charged five people in Cobram and Wangaratta as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged criminal network. The multi-year investigation has resulted in hundreds of charges and the alleged seizure of drugs, guns and vehicles. Police say they will continue to pursue suspects until “every link in the chain is broken”.
Doctor engaged in professional misconduct by accessing female colleague’s health record 14 times, tribunal finds – 12 May 2025
A Canberra doctor has been found to have engaged in professional misconduct. The doctor admitted to accessing a female colleague’s medical records 14 times. Dr James McClymont will be allowed to return to work under strict conditions including compulsory mentoring.
Shaken toddlers and slapped babies: Documents expose childcare crisis – 12 May 2025
Affinity Education owns more than 250 corporate childcare centres around the country. Footage shows a defensive baby slapped in the face by a child care worker. Investigation highlights child care system in crisis and the mistreatment of vulnerable children.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-12/shaken-toddlers-and-slapped-babies:-documents/105284350
Bunnings accused of abusing market power – 12 May 2025
Bunnings is Australia’s most trusted brand but it’s being accused of abusing its market power. A Four Corners investigation into the hardware giant has heard fresh allegations of supplier mistreatment, while a price survey has questioned whether Bunnings really is that cheap.
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/am/bunnings-accused-of-abusing-market-power/105280442
High Court to decide if information gathered on encrypted messaging app AN0M was legally obtained – 13 May 2025
The High Court will on Tuesday delve into the murky world of organised crime and encrypted messaging on an app known as AN0M, which was secretly controlled by the FBI and the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) said there were nearly 1,000 arrests globally, with 42 tonnes of illicit drugs and $US58 million in cash and crypto currency seized. According to AFP data, there have been nearly 100 people in Australia charged, with drugs, firearms, and substantial amounts of money seized.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-13/act-operation-ironside-an0m-app-high-court-preview/105275242
Queensland health ombudsman issues warning to public amid investigation into massage therapist – 13 May 2025
The ombusdman said Mr Zhen and H2OMASSAGE have allegedly put patients at risk by recommending dangerous and ineffective treatments. The OHO placed an interim order on Mr Zhen in June last year, prohibiting him from providing or supporting health services. An investigation is underway and anyone who has received treatment from Mr Zhen is urged to contact the Office of the Health Ombudsman.
The ‘therapeutic’ system where kids fall prey to child sex abusers – 13 May 2025
The ABC has unearthed cases of a senior worker contacting a child sex abuser as part of a “safety” check on a child, current sexual exploitation of a girl at risk of death, and one department’s attempt to avoid responsibility for decisions that led to assaults.
Marion Joan Pearson: Former Perth financial adviser fails to stop extradition to Australia to face 136 charges – 15 May 2025
A woman who formerly worked as a financial adviser in Perth will be sent back to Australia to face 136 theft charges after her extradition bid failed.
The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram – 15 May 2025
They call themselves Terrorgram — a group of “militant accelerationists” who use extreme violence to bring down governments and create new white “ethnostates”. They came together on social media apps like Telegram and created a transnational network resulting in a spree of deadly terror attacks across the globe. A year long investigation by PBS and ProPublica unmasks the ringleaders and how they operated.
And it uncovers the failings of authorities to stop them.
“The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram” shows the consequences of unfettered free speech — having influencers advocate mass murder.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-14/the-rise-and-fall-of-terrorgram/105292780
Macquarie sued for misreporting up to 1.5 billion sales – 14 May 2025
Corporate watchdog ASIC alleges Macquarie Securities – Macquarie Group’s cash brokering division – failed to correctly report at least 73 million short sales between December 2009 and February 2024. This puts the nation’s financial stability at risk. This marks ASIC’s fourth action against Macquarie Group in just over a year, highlighting broader compliance concerns in the local financial sector.
https://michaelwest.com.au/news/macquarie-sued-for-misreporting-up-to-1-5-billion-sales/
German police arrest three men over alleged Russian parcel bomb plot – 15 May 2025
Three men allegedly sent parcels containing GPS trackers in March this year to scout out potential routes for further explosive packages. The men were allegedly in contact with Russian state actors, German prosecutors say. It’s the latest example of a rising hybrid war in Europe, with western intelligence accusing Russia of using sabotage as a weapon to destabilise European support for Ukraine.
WA Premier blames system ‘gaps’ for allowing CCC officer in probe to work for VenuesWest – 15 May 2025
Louise Catherine Carruthers was an officer in the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) when she was accused of having an intimate relationship with an informant. The CCC’s Parliamentary Inspector tabled a report last year, which found she used her position for personal benefit with one of commission’s sources. It was later revealed that while under investigation, Ms Carruthers was employed by another government agency, VenuesWest.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-15/wa-ccc-officer-informant-improper-relationship/105273534
PointsBet fined $500,000 after spamming customers with gambling ad – 16 May 2025
Online gambling provider PointsBet Australia has been fined $500,800 for breaching spam and gambling self-exclusion laws. The Australian Communications and Media Authority found the company sent 508 marketing messages in a two-month period to people who had chosen to exclude themselves from online wagering. Experts have called on the federal government to act on the 31 recommendations from the parliamentary inquiry into online gambling, specifically setting up a gambling regulator.
