Latest news with #JobSeeker
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Perth businessman guilty in $3 million bikie money laundering scheme
Instead, Puttick was actually taking large quantities of dirty money, which he deposited into multiple accounts at a Victoria Park Commonwealth Bank branch, before giving it back to the same people electronically in the form of a 'loan'. Puttick was first arrested in December 2020 after he was pulled over by police in Thornlie. He was then taken to a storage unit in Canning Vale where a search warrant revealed a safe containing almost $750,000 in bundles of $50 and $100 notes. A search of Puttick's phone also allegedly found encryption software with messaging capabilities that could not be intercepted. Puttick was at the time a recipient of JobSeeker and Newstart allowances from Centrelink, the court was told, and therefore did not have the legitimate financial capacity to have been in receipt of large sums of cash. Now it can be revealed that that cash was dirty money, given to him by outlaw motorcycle gang members for him to cycle through accounts and feed back to them to make it look like they were legitimate funds. Puttick was paid a cut of the proceeds. Last month, two of Puttick's clients on trial alongside him were found guilty of engaging in transactions that involved money or property that was the proceeds of an offence. Husband and wife Anita and Stefano Bova were also on trial alongside Puttick. Stefano was found not guilty of any wrongdoing, while Anita had to withdraw from the trial partway through due to medical reasons. She will face court again at a later date. Fury was the first to be sentenced in 2023 after pleading guilty to receiving money that was the proceeds of an offence. Bank records showed more than $137,000 being filtered back to him by Puttick in the form of a loan, but no repayments were ever made. The original source of the cash was never identified, but the 35-year-old member of the Coffin Cheaters was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his involvement. Lange, also a member of the Coffin Cheaters, was sentenced to 14 months behind bars in March this year after the 49-year-old father-of-three was convicted on four counts of engaging in a transaction involving money that was the proceeds of an offence. In late 2019 and early 2020, Lange gave Puttick nearly $84,000 of dirty cash for him to launder, receiving it back in four separate instalments into bank accounts linked to companies he was linked to. He was arrested in May 2022 and pleaded guilty to the charges. He'll be eligible for parole in October. Fellow bikie Warren Goedhart, 46, was sentenced last month after he pleaded guilty to nine counts of engaging in a transaction involving the proceeds of an offence. Goedhart, a married father of one, laundered more than $191,000 through Puttick, which he used to service his South Lake mortgage held in his wife's name. The court heard the dirty cash originally came from his deceased grandmother's estate that she had accumulated through illegal activity. Goedhart was sentenced to a total of 21 months' imprisonment with eligibility for parole after serving half the sentence. Giovanni Bova, 59, was sentenced alongside Goedhart. He was convicted of engaging in a transaction involving the proceeds of an offence and possession of money reasonably suspected of being stolen. Bova got Puttick to launder $200,000 he then used to buy a house, but instead will spend the next 3½ years behind bars. Former promising footballer Riley Hutchinson and Coffin Cheater Shaun Collard both chose to spend their freshly laundered money on cars. Loading The pair were sentenced together last Friday after they were found guilty by a jury of a similar raft of crimes. Hutchinson, 31, spent nearly $300,000 of money laundered by Puttick on three vehicles, including a $100,000 Mercedes Benz. He was sentenced to two years and nine months behind bars for his involvement in the scheme. Collard gave Puttick almost $150,000 in cash for him to launder. He spent the money that was filtered back to him via two separate companies he was linked to on a Toyota Prado and a Toyota LandCruiser. Collard also pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis plants to sell and was convicted of possession of money unlawfully obtained after over $60,000 in separate bundles of cash with his DNA on it was found inside the cannabis grow house. The father-of-four, who is 39, will spend the next 4½ years in prison. Puttick will be sentenced later this month.
The Age
4 hours ago
- The Age
Perth businessman guilty in $3 million bikie money laundering scheme
Instead, Puttick was actually taking large quantities of dirty money, which he deposited into multiple accounts at a Victoria Park Commonwealth Bank branch, before giving it back to the same people electronically in the form of a 'loan'. Puttick was first arrested in December 2020 after he was pulled over by police in Thornlie. He was then taken to a storage unit in Canning Vale where a search warrant revealed a safe containing almost $750,000 in bundles of $50 and $100 notes. A search of Puttick's phone also allegedly found encryption software with messaging capabilities that could not be intercepted. Puttick was at the time a recipient of JobSeeker and Newstart allowances from Centrelink, the court was told, and therefore did not have the legitimate financial capacity to have been in receipt of large sums of cash. Now it can be revealed that that cash was dirty money, given to him by outlaw motorcycle gang members for him to cycle through accounts and feed back to them to make it look like they were legitimate funds. Puttick was paid a cut of the proceeds. Last month, two of Puttick's clients on trial alongside him were found guilty of engaging in transactions that involved money or property that was the proceeds of an offence. Husband and wife Anita and Stefano Bova were also on trial alongside Puttick. Stefano was found not guilty of any wrongdoing, while Anita had to withdraw from the trial partway through due to medical reasons. She will face court again at a later date. Fury was the first to be sentenced in 2023 after pleading guilty to receiving money that was the proceeds of an offence. Bank records showed more than $137,000 being filtered back to him by Puttick in the form of a loan, but no repayments were ever made. The original source of the cash was never identified, but the 35-year-old member of the Coffin Cheaters was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his involvement. Lange, also a member of the Coffin Cheaters, was sentenced to 14 months behind bars in March this year after the 49-year-old father-of-three was convicted on four counts of engaging in a transaction involving money that was the proceeds of an offence. In late 2019 and early 2020, Lange gave Puttick nearly $84,000 of dirty cash for him to launder, receiving it back in four separate instalments into bank accounts linked to companies he was linked to. He was arrested in May 2022 and pleaded guilty to the charges. He'll be eligible for parole in October. Fellow bikie Warren Goedhart, 46, was sentenced last month after he pleaded guilty to nine counts of engaging in a transaction involving the proceeds of an offence. Goedhart, a married father of one, laundered more than $191,000 through Puttick, which he used to service his South Lake mortgage held in his wife's name. The court heard the dirty cash originally came from his deceased grandmother's estate that she had accumulated through illegal activity. Goedhart was sentenced to a total of 21 months' imprisonment with eligibility for parole after serving half the sentence. Giovanni Bova, 59, was sentenced alongside Goedhart. He was convicted of engaging in a transaction involving the proceeds of an offence and possession of money reasonably suspected of being stolen. Bova got Puttick to launder $200,000 he then used to buy a house, but instead will spend the next 3½ years behind bars. Former promising footballer Riley Hutchinson and Coffin Cheater Shaun Collard both chose to spend their freshly laundered money on cars. Loading The pair were sentenced together last Friday after they were found guilty by a jury of a similar raft of crimes. Hutchinson, 31, spent nearly $300,000 of money laundered by Puttick on three vehicles, including a $100,000 Mercedes Benz. He was sentenced to two years and nine months behind bars for his involvement in the scheme. Collard gave Puttick almost $150,000 in cash for him to launder. He spent the money that was filtered back to him via two separate companies he was linked to on a Toyota Prado and a Toyota LandCruiser. Collard also pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis plants to sell and was convicted of possession of money unlawfully obtained after over $60,000 in separate bundles of cash with his DNA on it was found inside the cannabis grow house. The father-of-four, who is 39, will spend the next 4½ years in prison. Puttick will be sentenced later this month.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Centrelink $836 cash boost for 'very real' truth facing thousands of Aussies
No one expects to become unemployed, but for thousands of Australians, it's a very real and often sudden reality. Life can change overnight. If you've recently been made redundant or become too sick or injured to do your usual work — you're not alone. And while it's a challenging time, there is help available. A great first step could be talking to our free Financial Information Service (FIS) about your personal circumstances to see what your options are — I'll explain more about this later. Services Australia has a variety of payments and services that may be able to help navigate being unemployed. One of the main payments for people who are unable to find work is the JobSeeker Payment. Centrelink payment alert for 58,000 Aussies in caravans ATO $1,519 cash boost heading for Aussies in weeks Commonwealth Bank changes RBA interest rate cut call If you're aged between 22 and Age Pension age, and you're actively looking for work (unless you're sick or injured), you may be eligible for the JobSeeker Payment. To qualify, you must: Be an Australian resident and be between 22 and Age Pension age Pass an income and assets test Be willing and able to work — unless you're sick or injured and can't do your usual work or study for a short time If we grant your claim, the amount you get is going to depend on your personal situation. This includes whether you have a partner, children, and other sources of income. For example, as of 20 March 2025, a single person with no children could receive up to $781.10 per fortnight. Your situation Your maximum fortnightly payment Single, no children $781.10 Single, with a dependent child or children $836.50 Single, 55 or older, after 9 continuous months on an income support payment $836.50 Single, assessed as having a partial capacity to work of less than 15 hours a week $836.50 Partnered $715.10 Single principal carer granted an exemption from mutual obligation requirements for any of the following: - foster caring - non-parent relative caring under a court order - home schooling - distance education -large family $1,011.50 Job Seeker Payment amounts current as of 20 March 2025. Keep in mind redundancy and leave payouts may affect your eligibility, payment amount, and you may be subject to a waiting period. If you're getting JobSeeker Payment, you'll have to meet mutual obligations, which can include tasks like applying for jobs or participating in training — unless you have an exemption. If you get an income support payment from us, you must also report any income you and your partner get every two weeks, even if it's $0. Once you're on a payment, you'll have access to a range of support to help you find work that fits your skills. For example, help writing a resume, preparing for interviews, and upskilling to reflect local employers' needs. In the meantime, Services Australia has put together a job-hunting guide to help you search for work. Unfortunately, scammers prey on people looking for work. Red flags to look out for: jobs that require a payment before you start requests for your myGov sign in details to apply for a job roles that are low effort and high income job offers made through social media, WhatsApp, phone calls and email. Scammers often use fake listings on legitimate job websites, then disappear with your personal details or money. Be cautious about sharing sensitive information unless you're sure the job is legitimate. Never give your myGov sign in details to anyone. As I said before a great first step if you've recently become unemployed is talking to Services Australia's Financial Information Service (FIS) for free and impartial information. A lot of people assume they'll have immediate access to Jobseeker when they become unemployed but it's important to understand that redundancy or termination payments may affect your eligibility for income support and waiting periods may apply. A FIS officer can help you understand this and determine if JobSeeker is the right payment for you. Depending on your circumstances, there's also Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment and other support available. For more information head to Services Australia's Payment and Service Finder. Or call us on 132 300 and say 'Financial Information Service' when we asked why you're calling.
The Age
16-06-2025
- Health
- The Age
How the housing crisis is fuelling a mental health catastrophe
Every day more Australians are forced to spend a huge share of income on rent or mortgages, putting them under intense stress. In 2024, all major cities hit record rental unaffordability: the National Shelter/SGS Rental Affordability Index reports that rents have surged so much that householders on JobSeeker or basic pensions now find every market 'critically unaffordable'. In Sydney the median rent is $700+ a week (30 per cent of median income) and in Perth $600+ (31 per cent). Homeownership is ever more distant, vacancy rates have collapsed, and poorer renters in Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane are facing similar gaps between incomes and costs. This housing stress is now routine. A recent survey found four in five renters spend over 30 per cent of their income on housing. Over three-quarters of renters and mortgage-holders say the crisis has made them fear for their financial security. The toll shows up starkly on our streets and doorsteps. Australia's last census (2021) counted about 122,494 people as homeless on one night: including 7600 rough sleepers, and 23 per cent of those were aged 12 to 24. Meanwhile, everyday Australians tell similar stories of constant anxiety: pressure to find or keep a home, desperate rental searches, or living out of garages and boarding houses, eroding their sense of dignity. Tenants describe how endless rent hikes and knock-backs made them feel 'less human', always worried about losing any roof over their head. As housing stress deepens, Australia is also seeing a surge in mental ill-health. Decades of data show young people's psychological distress and diagnosed disorders have soared. For example, analysis of national surveys found the share of 15 to 25-year-olds with high psychological distress more than doubled from 2007 to 2021. The proportion of young Australians reporting a mental disorder in the past year jumped from 26 per cent in 2007 to about 40 per cent by 2022. In 2021–22, three-quarters of 15 to 24-year-olds had at least one chronic condition, with anxiety disorders affecting 26 per cent and depression 17 per cent. Loading Suicide and self-harm remain alarmingly high: they are the leading cause of death for young men (among injury deaths) and anxiety disorders the top issue for young women. In short, mental illness is now the single largest health burden facing teens and young adults in Australia. The pressure on mental health services is immense. GPs provide 85 per cent of mental-health prescriptions, and in 2021–22 people aged 12 to 24 already made up 23 per cent of all Medicare-funded mental health service users. Sharon Callister, CEO of welfare group Mission Australia, notes that one in five young people report severe distress and more than a fifth rank mental health as their biggest personal challenge. She warns 'so many young people are struggling with stress, anxiety, loneliness and depression', highlighting an 'urgent need for increased mental health support'. Clinics and hotlines are overwhelmed, and long waits for care are the norm, a reality far harsher for those also battling housing insecurity.
Sydney Morning Herald
16-06-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
How the housing crisis is fuelling a mental health catastrophe
Every day more Australians are forced to spend a huge share of income on rent or mortgages, putting them under intense stress. In 2024, all major cities hit record rental unaffordability: the National Shelter/SGS Rental Affordability Index reports that rents have surged so much that householders on JobSeeker or basic pensions now find every market 'critically unaffordable'. In Sydney the median rent is $700+ a week (30 per cent of median income) and in Perth $600+ (31 per cent). Homeownership is ever more distant, vacancy rates have collapsed, and poorer renters in Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane are facing similar gaps between incomes and costs. This housing stress is now routine. A recent survey found four in five renters spend over 30 per cent of their income on housing. Over three-quarters of renters and mortgage-holders say the crisis has made them fear for their financial security. The toll shows up starkly on our streets and doorsteps. Australia's last census (2021) counted about 122,494 people as homeless on one night: including 7600 rough sleepers, and 23 per cent of those were aged 12 to 24. Meanwhile, everyday Australians tell similar stories of constant anxiety: pressure to find or keep a home, desperate rental searches, or living out of garages and boarding houses, eroding their sense of dignity. Tenants describe how endless rent hikes and knock-backs made them feel 'less human', always worried about losing any roof over their head. As housing stress deepens, Australia is also seeing a surge in mental ill-health. Decades of data show young people's psychological distress and diagnosed disorders have soared. For example, analysis of national surveys found the share of 15 to 25-year-olds with high psychological distress more than doubled from 2007 to 2021. The proportion of young Australians reporting a mental disorder in the past year jumped from 26 per cent in 2007 to about 40 per cent by 2022. In 2021–22, three-quarters of 15 to 24-year-olds had at least one chronic condition, with anxiety disorders affecting 26 per cent and depression 17 per cent. Loading Suicide and self-harm remain alarmingly high: they are the leading cause of death for young men (among injury deaths) and anxiety disorders the top issue for young women. In short, mental illness is now the single largest health burden facing teens and young adults in Australia. The pressure on mental health services is immense. GPs provide 85 per cent of mental-health prescriptions, and in 2021–22 people aged 12 to 24 already made up 23 per cent of all Medicare-funded mental health service users. Sharon Callister, CEO of welfare group Mission Australia, notes that one in five young people report severe distress and more than a fifth rank mental health as their biggest personal challenge. She warns 'so many young people are struggling with stress, anxiety, loneliness and depression', highlighting an 'urgent need for increased mental health support'. Clinics and hotlines are overwhelmed, and long waits for care are the norm, a reality far harsher for those also battling housing insecurity.
