Philip Morris uses secret Senate hearing to warn illegal tobacco in Australia could wipe out legal trade by 2030
By Tom McIlroy and Nino Bucci
Company pushes for lower excise and claims threats warrant secrecy, while critics say it has ‘no interest in public health or safety’
#Health #Smoking #PhilipMorrisInternational #MarkButler #Tobaccoindustry #Australianews #TomMcIlroy #NinoBucci
9News | 'A soft target for crooks': Shocking extent of NDIS fraud revealed by 9News
AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.
The parliamentary inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) uncovered that roughly 8 percent of the scheme’s $45 billion budget—over $3.5 billion—has been compromised by fraud, with criminal gangs, coercive schemes and international cartels targeting vulnerable people with disabilities. Investigators found that 90 percent of the smallest 1,000 of the 1,400 plan managers show traces of fraudulent activity, including inflated billing, “harvesting” of participants’ packages, and exploitation of those recently released from prison. NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister called the scheme a “soft target for crooks,” while officials from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the Fraud Fusion Taskforce warned that the fraud spans Australia, South America, and parts of Asia. In response, the government plans to slash NDIS spending in the upcoming budget, aiming to reduce the average annual plan by about $5,000 and save $35 billion, alongside tighter safeguards and oversight.
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