Demand for urgent inquiry into $1.2b super scandal – 29 August 2025
Financial advisers and the opposition are demanding the government expedite probes into the collapse of investment schemes collectively worth $1.2 billion that has left superannuation savers suffering heavy losses. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is investigating the failed Shield Master Fund, First Guardian Master Fund and Australian Fiduciaries. About 11,000 investors are exposed.
Beauty giant Mecca faces ASIC investigation over secretive accounting – 29 August 2025
Mecca Brands, the cosmetics giant owned by billionaire founder Jo Horgan and her husband Peter Wetenhall, is being investigated by the corporate regulator over the secretive way that it has provided its accounts, including the years-long existence of a little-known corporate entity. The Australian Financial Review revealed this week that Mecca had paid out a $110 million dividend after revenues surged to more than $1.4 billion in the 12 months to December 31. Other accounts lodged by the company did not give a true picture of Mecca’s overall performance or dividends.
‘Pitiful’ Melbourne lawyer Dean Hadjina caught stealing from grieving widow – 30 August 2025
A Melbourne lawyer has been caught stealing close to $500,000 from a grieving widow, after concocting an elaborate cover story to deceive the woman. Victoria’s Supreme Court heard Dean Hadjina’s scheme included grandiose promises, fake court cases and fabricated legal documents. A judge says Hadjina will be taken into custody at his next court hearing in September.
Federal Court hears details of Optus’s ‘unconscionable’ conduct – 2 September 2025
Australia’s competition watchdog has detailed its submissions about unconscionable conduct by telecommunications giant Optus. The Federal Court heard one example of how telco staff “input false information on credit checks” when selling its services to a woman living with an intellectual disability. The hearing, to determine whether to approve a $100m penalty against the telco, has been adjourned.
After NT Supreme Court guilty verdict, here’s what could happen next in Matt Wright’s criminal case – 2 September 2025
Matt Wright’s criminal trial in the Northern Territory Supreme Court left few stones unturned in exposing the events that followed a fatal 2022 helicopter crash to the harsh light of public scrutiny. The celebrity crocodile wrangler was found guilty on two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice by trying to impede investigations into the crash that killed his close friend and Netflix co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson. But while the verdict provided some measure of closure for Mr Wilson’s family and pilot Sebastian Robinson, who suffered catastrophic injuries in the crash, some unanswered questions remain.
Whistleblower protection authority shot down by Senate committee – 2 September 2025
A Senate committee has recommended against establishing an independent whistleblower protection authority, citing concerns about regulatory duplications and other issues.
Financial adviser banned for six years – 2 September 2025
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has banned financial adviser Milutin Petrovic for six years following serious breaches of client obligations at the now-liquidated United Global Capital. ASIC found Petrovic failed key advice requirements when recommending clients invest retirement savings into products linked to his employer. The regulator determined he provided defective advice that prioritised his licensee’s interests over those of his clients.
https://www.brokernews.com.au/news/breaking-news/financial-adviser-banned-for-six-years-287916.aspx
Two charged by Victorian corruption watchdog after Operation Sandon investigation into Casey council – 3 September 2025
Two people have been charged by Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog after a seven-year investigation into planning and property development decisions by the City of Casey in Melbourne’s south-east. IBAC’s final report from Operation Sandon, tabled in Victorian Parliament in 2023, found developer John Woodman paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for councillor support for projects in the outer growth area. IBAC has today announced that a former Casey councillor had been charged with five offences, including receiving secret commissions, misconduct in public office and misuse of position.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-03/operation-sandon-casey-council-ibac-charges/105730716
Australia regulator fines SocGen unit $2.5 million over suspicious futures orders – 3 September 2025
An Australian regulator said on Tuesday that a review panel has fined a local unit of French lender Societe Generale (SOGN.PA), opens new tab A$3.88 million ($2.52 million) for failing to prevent suspicious orders in the electricity and wheat futures markets. An investigation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) found that Societe Generale Securities Australia, one of the largest participants on the ASX 24 derivatives market, allowed two of its clients to place 33 suspicious orders between May 2023 and February 2024.
David Pocock, Larissa Waters, Fatima Payman lead calls for urgent driving instructor reform after allegations of sexual assault – 3 September 2025
Political pressure is being placed on the federal government to help protect learner drivers from sexual assault. An ABC investigation heard from more than 300 people alleging their instructors sexually harassed or assaulted them, many when they were still minors. Transport ministers will meet before the end of the year.
Investigation launched after childcare centre gives wrong child to grandparent – 3 September 2025
A toddler was missing for several hours after a grandparent picked up the wrong child from a Sydney childcare centre.
The childcare centre apologised to the parents, saying an investigation has been launched. An educator has been stood down over the incident.
Pharmacist’s stolen image used in ‘dangerous’ deepfake adverts for weight loss drug – 4 September 2025
An angry pharmacist says unidentified fraudsters have used her image without consent to promote weight loss drugs online. Mary Baker’s photo was manipulated alongside a fabricated weight loss “success” story shared on social media. An internet studies expert says scams like this are becoming common, but legal action is costly and can take a lot of effort.
