Financial consultant ordered to live with parents before trial over sexual assaults, bad cheques – 27 June 2025
Mark Steven Sarian pleaded not guilty to 49 charges, including 38 counts of sexual intercourse without consent. He is accused of paying sex workers with dishonoured cheques and failed bank transfers. Mr Sarian was handed strict bail conditions including to not leave his parents’ home unless for reasons such as work, medical or legal appointments.
Police sound alarm after scams using cryptocurrency ATMs send Australians to the wall – 29 June 2025
Police are sounding the alarm across the country, including in the ACT, and warning of scams involving the use of cryptocurrency ATMs. Over 2024, the Australian Signals Directorate’s ReportCyber received 150 reports about cryptocurrency ATM-related scams, with losses exceeding $3 million.
ASIC’s banning actions against advisers in FY25 – 30 June 2025
With a busy financial year, ASIC took action against numerous individuals during the period, including permanent banning’s and enforcement action against dishonest conduct. Article summaries the ASIC banning activity during the financial year.
Fair Work non-compliance rife among farm labour providers in Adelaide Hills and Riverland – 30 June 2025
A Fair Work Ombudsman report has found “several” Adelaide Hills labour hire providers have not paid workers’ their superannuation. The report also found 92 per cent of labour hire providers audited in South Australia were non-compliant.
Agencies involved in a task force investigating illegal “phoenix” businesses are continuing their investigations.
Man facing trial for hundreds of fraud charges allegedly committed against quadriplegic friend – 1 July 2025
A trial has heard a man with quadriplegia was devastated when he realised his bank account had nothing in it, after an alleged fraud by a friend. Jonathan Maher is facing hundreds of charges after he allegedly took the money from the man’s account — some as cash and some in purchases. Mr Maher’s trial is continuing in the ACT Supreme Court.
Creating a federal whistleblower authorit for public interest disclosures – 1 July 2025
Public interest disclosure needs more than principles — it needs protection. The recently released report from Transparency International Australia, the Human Rights Law Centre and Griffith University, ‘A Fair Go for Speaking Up: Design Principles for Australia’s Federal Whistleblower Authority’, is a sore reminder about the critical absence of an agency able to aid those interested in making public interest disclosures.
Fresh DNA’ sparks investigation into 1987 murder of Bundaberg taxi driver Bryan Hodgkinson – 2 July 2025
Queensland police are offering a $500,000 reward for information into the cold case murder of Bundaberg taxi driver Bryan Hodgkinson, with fresh DNA evidence leading to a new line of inquiry. Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell said Hodgkinson’s murder can still be solved, “irrespective of the passage of time” due to ‘new and enhanced forensic testing of exhibits seized’.
Treasury prepares to crack down on audit firms, with or without ASIC – 2 July 2025
Treasury is considering handing the corporate regulator the power to punish major audit and consulting firms for the first time, as part of a crackdown on the sector proposed after PwC was caught circulating confidential government tax details to promote its services.
UK Crown Prosecution Service considers further charges against killer nurse Lucy Letby – 3 July 2025
Prosecutors are considering bringing further charges against nurse Lucy Letby over allegations relating to deaths and other incidents at hospitals where she worked. Letby, 35, is serving life in jail after being found guilty of murdering seven newborns and attempting to kill eight more at a neonatal unit in a hospital in nothern England. Police said they were investigating whether she had committed further crimes, and the Crown Prosecution Service said it was now examining the evidence.
Australian banks roll out name-matching technology to combat scams – 3 July 2025
To curb rising scam threats, Australian banks have begun the rollout of the industry-wide security feature Confirmation of Payee (CoP), a name-matching solution designed to reduce fraud and mistaken payments. The initiative, developed by Australian Payments Plus (AP+), forms part of the Australian Banking Association’s (ABA) Scam-Safe Accord. Under the system, customers entering a BSB and account number during a payment transaction will be shown whether the name they have entered matches the one held by the receiving bank. This added verification step is designed to flag inconsistencies before funds are transferred.
First Guardian collapse leaves thousands at risk of losing super as ASIC freezes director assets – 4 July 2025
A Melbourne man, was contacted by a financial advisory company called Venture Egg, which convinced him to roll his super savings from ANZ into a super fund called AusPrac. He then found out his super money was being channelled into “a cash hub” controlled by the directors of a managed investment scheme, called First Guardian Master Fund. He is now among 6,000 Australians who invested $590 million with First Guardian, which collapsed earlier this year, and which is currently under investigation by the corporate watchdog, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Qantas executives slow to be seen after data breach affecting up to 6 million customers – 4 July 2025
More than 6 million Qantas customers received a personalised email, signed by the chief executive, informing them that cyber criminals had scaled the company’s defences. The first email outlined fears that the airline’s database containing personal information had been hacked and, your name might be on it. For those receiving the follow-up email, it was confirmation their name, email, phone number and frequent flyer number had also been unlawfully accessed.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-03/naus_qantascybernr_0307/105491200
