In January 2024, the Australian Federal Police laid criminal charges against a Sydney man for allegedly using inside information to place bets on the outcome of the Australian of the Year Awards. The prosecution formed part of a broader investigation known as Operation Maridun, which examined illicit betting activity based on confidential information about award outcomes. The case highlights the application of insider information offences beyond traditional financial markets.

Aussies are the biggest punters per head of population in the world, and when placing money on unknown outcomes is done with such frequency and the losses so significant, the construct of that regulated environment must be monitored in partnership with the market markers and regulators through the same lens. The process of regulation is not just about monitoring and identifying the legitimacy of the bet that punters place, but ensuring the wagering system's compliance restric

The High Court’s decision in The King v ZT (2025) addresses a question that sits at the centre of modern criminal litigation – how appellate courts must approach cases in which the jury’s verdict rests heavily on recorded evidence. As surveillance material, police interviews and telecommunication intercepts become more prevalent in serious criminal trials, the question of who must listen, who must watch and who may form an evaluative judgment becomes critical. This case place