Lawyer accused of extracting firm data fails to bolster defence – 5 Decemeber 2025
A lawyer, previously employed at a law firm — is accused of extracting confidential data from that firm with the intention of using it to set up a rival firm. The lawyer tried to strengthen his defence by filing new pleadings, including a claim that a “side agreement” made the original employment agreement illegal. A court (or judge) rejected that attempt, finding the new defence insufficient or flawed. As a result, the lawyer “failed to bolster” his defence.
ASIC questions KPMG over employees using AI to cheat on tests – 9 Decemeber 2025
ASIC is probing KPMG after allegations that some KPMG employees used AI tools to cheat on internal tests. The scrutiny comes amid broader revelations that auditors at KPMG were caught using AI to cheat on assessment tasks. The issue raises concerns about professional integrity and trustworthiness at a major audit firm — especially since audits play a critical role in financial reporting and oversight.
Shannon got an email saying she’d been convicted for multiple crimes in Mt Druitt. She says she’s never even been there – 9 Decemeber 2025
The article describes the case of Shannon Smith, a 28 year-old UK-born social worker candidate for a permanent skilled visa, whose required police check via Australian Federal Police (AFP) came back listing multiple criminal convictions. The convictions include shoplifting, affray and failure to appear at court (in 2023 and 2025), and a drug possession offence reportedly in 2019. Smith says she never committed these offences and claims she was not even in the relevant jurisdiction at the time, and in some cases was not in Australia at all.
Ombud strikes another blow in unlawful welfare cancellation saga – 9 Decemeber 2025
The Ombudsman, Iain Anderson has again strongly criticised the agencies administering the TCF (Targeted Compliance Framework), including Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) and Services Australia. The investigation into the TCF began in February 2025, after concerns that a large number of income-support payments for job-seekers had been cancelled unlawfully or unfairly. To date, the Ombudsman’s reviews have resulted in 604 repayments to people whose payments were wrongly cancelled.
https://www.themandarin.com.au/304651-targeted-compliance-framework-ombud-report-2/
Panda Mart banned from trading for 72 hours after hundreds of illegal items found on shelves – 10 Decemeber 2025
An urgent court order has banned budget retailer Panda Mart from operating in Victoria after hundreds of illegal items were discovered on the shelves. A number of concerning items have been found at the Cranbourne and Preston stores, including candles with flammable content next to the wick, toys with unsecured button batteries, items with choking hazards and flotation devices without adequate warnings.
The discount shop, which first opened in Melbourne earlier this year, will remain closed for 72 hours from 9am today while a full compliance inspection takes place.
Penalties push for financial abusers who draw partners into tax and company fraud – 10 Decemeber 2025
The article describes the case of “Louise” (a pseudonym), a woman who found herself facing a large tax and company debt liability after her former partner registered her as a company director — without her knowledge or consent. As a result, she ended up with a “director penalty notice” from Australian Taxation Office (ATO) demanding payment of tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid tax, GST and PAYG withholding — debts she says she had no idea about and did not incur. According to recent research, economic abuse affects more than 2.4 million Australians and costs the economy roughly A$11 billion annually.
Reprimand for solicitor over attempts to émbarras, frustrate’ – 10 Decemeber 2025
A solicitor in Sydney was publicly reprimanded and fined after sending a letter that was judged to have been designed to “embarrass or frustrate” the recipient. The regulator found the conduct unacceptable under the professional conduct rules — i.e. it went beyond legitimate advocacy.
Services Australia data breaches almost double in two years – 11 Decemeber 2025
Services Australia (SA), the Australian government agency responsible for key welfare, Medicare, and social-services systems, is planning to expand its powers to deal with data breaches. The move comes as reported data breaches involving SA have nearly doubled over recent years.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9131194/services-australia-to-boost-data-breach-authority/
Murray River water thieves hit with $558,000 fine – 11 Decemeber 2025
Between 2016 and 2019, Jindalee Road Wines and David Littore illegally tapped into an irrigation pipeline (serviced by Western Murray Irrigation — WMI), bypassing water meters and diverting water to irrigate vineyards. On appeal (December 2025), the penalty was reduced to a combined $558,000: $345,000 for the company and $213,000 for Littore
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-11/david-littore-jindalee-road-wines-water-theft/106124764
Meta ran ads for bond scheme run by GIM Trading that allegedly defrauded millions from investors – 11 Decemeber 2025
Tech giant Meta ran advertisements for an Australian company now under investigation for fraud.
Meta confirmed it ran the GIM Trading ads but rejected claims it was not doing enough to stop scams on its platforms. ASIC continues to investigate GIM Trading but no criminal or civil charges have been laid.
