Academics raise alarm over suspected AI use in Deloitte report – 22 August 2025
A major report for government by Deloitte is littered with citation errors prompting concern it may have been generated by artificial intelligence, but the consultancy claims it merely got the titles and, in some cases, dates and publishers incorrect. Chris Rudge, a welfare academic at Sydney University, discovered the errors in a report by Deloitte for the Department of Workplace Relations (DEWR) on the IT system used to automate penalties in the welfare system such as pauses on the dole.
Kmart faces legal action in Australia over potential forced labour links – 22 August 2025
Earlier this month an Australian-based Uyghur group launched legal action against Kmart in the federal court. The case has put the retailer’s supply chain under scrutiny for potential links to forced labour in China’s Xinjiang province.
Nour Haydar speaks with senior reporter Ben Doherty about the legal action against Kmart and the warnings that Australia could become a dumping ground for products linked to forced labour.
Tasmanian racing stewards stood down pending investigation over bets, ABC understands – 25 August 2025
The ABC understands two stewards, including the acting chief thoroughbred racing steward, have been stood down while an investigation is conducted into alleged betting. The nature of the alleged betting, including which specific races and amounts alleged to be wagered, remains unclear. In a statement, the racing minister says the government has “delivered the biggest reforms in decades to strengthen our racing industry, just like we said we would”.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-25/tasmanian-racing-stewards-alleged-betting/105694118
How NSW Health uses children in illicit tobacco shop stings – 26 August 2025
Teenagers are going undercover in tobacco shop stings and a private contractor is charging the public tens of thousands of dollars, to destroy Vapes in NSW’s desperate attempts to combat black market tobacco.
Access to digital version of SMH required to read article.
Man at centre of NDIS property scheme accused of lavish spending despite having assets frozen by Federal Court – 26 August 2025
The Gold Coast businessman accused of gambling tens of millions of dollars earmarked to build homes for the country’s most disabled has allegedly continued to spend lavishly despite the Federal Court freezing his assets. Mr McWilliams’s case is part of a broader investigation by Four Corners that has found a profound lack of regulation in the disability housing sector, with property sharks using the NDIS name to line their pockets while investors see their life savings evaporate
Google issues emergency warning for all Gmail users – 28 August 2025
Google has sounded the alarm with an emergency warning to all Gmail users, urging extra caution amid a growing cyber threat linked to a major third-party breach. While the company stresses that its own systems remain secure, the incident has opened the door for hackers to exploit stolen data in new and deceptive ways.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/google-issues-emergency-warning-gmail-121037539.html
Whistleblower Richard Boyle avoids conviction and jail after revealing tax office’s unethical behaviour – 28 August 2025
Whistleblower Richard Boyle has been spared jail after exposing unethical debt collection practices at the Australian Taxation Office. Judge Liesl Kudelka sentenced Boyle, 49, in the South Australian district court, seven years after the former debt collection officer went public with allegations that led to reforms within the ATO. In a plea deal with prosecutors, the Adelaide man admitted four criminal charges, reduced from the original 66 laid after he appeared on the ABC’s Four Corners program. Family and supporters sobbed in court when Boyle received no conviction on all four counts, no penalty and a $500 12-month good behaviour bond.
‘Large scale’ cattle duffing in the NT under investigation – 28 August 2025
Police are investigating the alleged theft of hundreds of cattle from an NT cattle station. NT Cattlemen’s Association says it’s not an isolated incident and is calling for a dedicated NT stock squad. One NT cattle producer has pleaded guilty to stock theft in the Top End and will be sentenced next month.
Slater and Gordon chair breaks silence on email crisis – 29 August 2025
Slater and Gordon chairman James MacKenzie was at home when he received a call from a group of senior executives about a damaging email that had been sent to hundreds of staff and would quickly plunge the storied class action law firm into crisis. As soon as he jumped off the call he corralled a crisis team – FMRS Advisory’s Lissie Ratcliff, Minter Ellison’s John Steven and KordaMentha’s Mark Korda – to manage the fallout which consumed the firm and captivated the Australian legal community for days.
https://www.afr.com/politics/slater-and-gordon-chair-breaks-silence-on-email-crisis-20250827-p5mq8c
Slater and Gordon announce class action against Suncorp – 29 August 2025
The Suncorp Group is facing a potential class action over claims it charged loyal customers higher insurance premiums because of their long-term commitment. Slater and Gordon is leading the investigation, which examines whether AAMI, GIO, Apia and Suncorp insurance customers were unfairly punished with inflated premiums for simply sticking with the same provider over time. The law firm has labelled the alleged practice a “loyalty tax,” arguing that it was quietly embedded into policies without customers’ knowledge. “The investigation focuses on allegations that these increased charges were included in premiums without proper disclosure, effectively punishing loyalty to these brands,” said Slater and Gordon.
https://7news.com.au/news/slater-and-gorden-announce-class-action-against-suncorp-c-19835142
Matt Wright found guilty on two counts of hindering chopper crash investigation – 29 August 2025
A jury has found Matt Wright guilty on two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice, in relation to the aftermath of a fatal 2022 helicopter crash. The Northern Territory Supreme Court jury could not reach a verdict on a third count of the same charge. Wright, who has been bailed until sentencing, told reporters outside court he intends to appeal the verdict.
The months-long investigation that unpicked Iran’s foreign interference plot – 29 August 2025
The Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation last week unpicked the thread confirming a link between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and an antisemitic attack in Sydney and Melbourne. That evidence, which can’t be revealed for security reasons, enabled intelligence services to substantiate suspected Iranian interference with “high confidence”.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-29/how-irans-antisemitic-attack-plot-came-undone/105709542
