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$1 million penalty for cartel conduct

As the guardian of fair business practice, the Austrailan Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has the role of advocating for the paying customer, but all its duties it must build, maintain, and police a liquid marketplace for competitive participants by applying the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth). In this case the ACCC were in the mode of observing and applying Competition Enforcement. In August 2016, NQCranes entered into a written distributorship agreement w

By THE BRIEF EDITORIAL

ato's operation elbrus busts plutus payroll

Operation Elbrus, commonly referred to as the Plutus Payroll fraud, was one of the largest tax-fraud investigations undertaken in Australia. The operation was led jointly by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) through the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce (SFCT). The alleged offending read like the most improbable Hollywood script with conspiracy spreading across a web of facades, and lead by caricature-like key players which included

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maritime Museum exhibits how to deal with cyber fraud

In March 2024, a 25‑year-old Sydney man was sentenced at the Central Local Court (NSW) for a scheme of internal cyber-fraud targeting the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM). The offender was employed as an IT contractor through a third-party provider and had privileged access to the museum’s accounts payable system. background Cases of financial impropriety among those responsible for the company accounts, trusts, and estates, is long held, but in this case the fruit

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ASic spots insider trading before takeover

In Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions v Stewart (2025) VCC 1306, the County Court of Victoria dealt with a high-profile prosecution for criminal insider trading arising from share trading linked to a confidential takeover of Kidman Resources Limited. The case clarified key aspects of insider trading liability under Australian corporate law and reinforced the seriousness with which courts treat unauthorised trading on price-sensitive information. Background In April

By CJ DORE

Operation stonefish captures crypto crime

From the earliest mention of Bitcoin the world of crypto currency has been mysterious and even mythological, given it's true origins and assumed founder, are still debated. Digital currency created fortunes for early adaptors, and a new problem for local law enforcement agencies. When robbing a bank, was done with balaclavas and shotguns, it's now done from another country and only requires a computer. On 17 June 2024, the Melbourne County Court sentenced a 31-year-old Melbou

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it's a numbers game with guilty pleas in nsw

In Sampson v R (2025) NSWCCA 25, the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal clarified a narrow but consequential issue in sentencing practice under the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) (CSPA). The Court held that mandatory guilty-plea discounts applied under s 25D of the CSPA must be calculated and expressed with mathematical precision, and cannot be rounded to even months or years after calculation. The decision resolves uncertainty about whether courts may ad

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insider info on australian of the year

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.

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Bookie gets audited to ensure compliance

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

By CJ DORE

not what you say, but how you say it in a confession

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 plac

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ASIC interpret telegrams as market manipulation

An ASIC investigation intended to identify market manipulation uncovered a coordinated pump-and-dump trading scheme conducted through Telegram. Telegram is a secure messaging and audio calling cloud-based app that allows users to send messages, photos, and files to contacts for free. The specific use of this channel by a group has resulted in criminal prosecutions and guilty pleas, and has renewed focus on the application of Australia’s market-manipulation laws in digital env

By THE BRIEF EDITORIAL

ASIC interpret telegrams as market manipulation

Hc sets the scene for corporate misconduct

The High Court of Australia has delivered a decision that directly addresses how Captain Cook College operated within the VET FEE-HELP system, and who can be held responsible when a corporate system produces widespread consumer harm. In dismissing the college’s appeal, the Court confirmed that Captain Cook College’s recruitment and enrolment model - which resulted in thousands of students incurring substantial VET FEE-HELP debts with little or no educational benefit - constit

By THE BRIEF EDITORIAL