Latest news with #Voulgaris
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Aussie man slams 'wild' workplace act - but not everyone is on his side
Workplaces that demand medical certificates from their employees have come under fire for the 'ridiculous' policy - but some say it's a necessary requirement. TikTok personality Anthony Voulgaris said it was 'wild' that staff were expected to leave their homes to fulfil the requirement while unwell. 'You know what's wild to me, bosses requiring a medical certificate when you're sick, like 'hey, can you please give us a medical certificate the day you're sick?',' he said. 'What do you mean? I was f**king sick, I wasn't going to the doctor's. 'I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying in my house... that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.' Voulgaris said if he was sick, he would not be up for leaving his bed to prove it. 'How about you just take my word for it? What happened to trust?' he said. Dozens of Aussies were quick to slam the policy, with many pointing out that it's become increasingly difficult to secure a same-day appointment with a GP. 'The last thing I wanted to do was leave my bed... But who can get into the doctors same day?' one asked in the comments. 'No literally like you want me to get up… and do the entire doctor process… [I] may as well come to work,' another said. 'I once had gastro and was throwing up every 20 minutes so I called in sick to work. They asked for a doctors note and I physically couldn't leave the house or I'd throw up everywhere,' a third shared. 'So I got the note online, paid for it, and apparently it was invalid to my work because it wasn't signed from an actual doctor's office.' But others defended the contentious workplace requirement. 'If people didn't take advantage of it they'd probably be a bit more lenient. Too many people [are] taking days off just because and expecting to get paid,' one argued. '[It's because] you all talk s*** to get days off,' another said. 'It's for the people who call in sick every day and show up once in 30 days,' a third agreed. A former receptionist at a doctors office shared a warning for those tempted to forge a medical certificate. 'As a previous medical receptionist these actually take up spots for people who actually need to see a doctor,' she said. 'P.S. don't forge, (employers) do call and check.' Dr Max Mollenkopf previously told the ABC that appointments for medical certificates, sometimes up to three a day, were taking time away from his patients in poorer health. 'If someone is sick and they want to see me, every day of the week, I want them to be able to come in. I didn't sign up to do medicine to do HR policy on behalf of large corporations,' he said. The Fair Work Commission said workplaces can create their own sick leave policy and can ask staff to provide evidence for just one day off work. 'An employee who doesn't give their employer evidence when asked may not be entitled to be paid for their sick or carer's leave,' the tribunal said.
Courier-Mail
30-06-2025
- Courier-Mail
10 News+ nabs exclusive interview with Taiwan drug smuggler Debbie Voulgaris
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Australia's newest investigative journalism program has kicked off with a bombshell program presenting evidence it claims can prove the innocence of Melbourne mum and convicted drug smuggler Debbie Voulgaris. Channel 10's new program 10 News+, which has replaced The Project, aired an exclusive interview with Ms Voulgaris from her Taiwanese prison on Monday. Journalist Denham Hitchcock insisted the program had evidence to prove Ms Voulgaris' innocence. She is currently held at a women's prison in Taipei, Taiwan serving a 15-year sentence for drug smuggling. Ms Voulgaris alleged in the program that she went to Laos because of her husband John Voulgaris, but said she did not believe he would intentionally involve her in a crime. 'I wouldn't think that he would hurt you, his children,' Ms Voulgaris told her children in a video call recorded by the program. 10 News+ alleged that Ms Voulgaris' husband was caught up in a 'black money scam' when he asked his ex-wife to travel. It is a scam that presents victims with a narrative that a huge amount of money has been physically stained in some way, then victims will be instructed to retrieve money-cleaning chemicals in exchange for a portion of the money — instead drugs are likely smuggled in the suitcases. The program alleged that Mr Voulgaris flew to London and Laos to pick up suitcases that were brought to a hotel in Melbourne. Debbie Voulgaris says she is innocent of her drug smuggling, and pleaded guilty only in a bid to avoid the death penalty. Picture: 10 News Mr Voulgaris then allegedly sent Ms Voulgaris to retrieve the next suitcase. 'Brother, I'm sending my ex-wife. Better nothing goes wrong,' a message sent from Mr Voulgaris' to the alleged scammer's account read. Ms Voulgaris travelled to Laos twice to pick up suitcases, but again the money cleaning failed. 10 News+ alleged that Mr Voulgaris then became aware that the scheme may not have been what he initially believed. Mr Voulgaris sent a message to the scammer: 'You are risking money, I'm risking the mother of my children.' Mr Voulgaris has not been charged with any crime and has previously said he and his ex-wife had been set up. 10 News+ said that Ms Voulgaris was struggling for money throughout the process of the alleged smuggling. She was arrested at a Taiwanese airport with 7kg of heroin and cocaine in her suitcase. Debbie Voulgaris, 58, from Melbourne, was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport on December 10, 2023, after cocaine and heroin were found in plastic bags inside her luggage. Picture: Supplied The alleged scammer stopped replying to Mr Voulgaris' messages following Ms Voulgaris' arrest, 10 News reported. Ms Voulgaris' faced the death penalty and pleaded guilty, hoping for a lighter sentence. Ms Voulgaris' new lawyer, Michael Hsu, told the program he believed she was innocent. 'Debbie, definitely has no intention to trafficking any drugs into Taiwan. 'So, it is hard to imagine a normal housewife to be a drug mule,' Mr Hsu said. In a video call between Ms Voulgaris and her children recorded by the program she begged for help to get home to her 'angels'. In a heartbreaking video Ms Voulgaris sang 'you are my sunshine' to her children. Mr Hitchcock doorknocked Mr Voulgaris' home, but he did not open the door to the reporter. He previously denied the allegations to Daily Mail Australia, declaring his ex-wife is 'bloody innocent!'' 'We have been set up! We don't know anything about bloody drugs and have never seen or touched them in our lives,' he said in May last year. Asked about the case later on the program, Anthony Albanese said he was 'aware' of Ms Voulgaris but refrained from 'making a declaration as to her status'. He said she had been given consular assistance by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trading but declined making further comment as she waits for her final chance at appeal. 'If you start commenting as an Australian Prime Minister about court processes overseas, then that will not assist the Australian citizen who is going through that process,' he told the program. 'But Foreign Affairs and Trade will continue to provide support to the family. It obviously is a very distressing time.' Journalists Denham Hitchcock and Walkley Award-winning journalist Amelia Brace will helm the new current affairs show. Picture: 10 News In earlier promotional material, Mr Hitchcock and Ms Brace promise viewers the show will 'put the truth first'. Mr Hitchcock has also claimed Monday night's episode would be 'an absolute blockbuster'. 'It's a story 60 Minutes, Four Corners and Spotlight would kill for,' he told Stellar Magazine. The Project ran for 16 years, ending its run with a farewell show last Friday night. Mr Aly, in an emotional tribute, said the show had 'reflected the best of this country'. 'Could you do a prime time commercial news show that hooked its audience by playing with them instead of scaring them,' he said. 'That didn't trade on demonising groups of people who have no platform to respond? 'Not the done thing. Well, we done the thing.' The Project launched in 2009 and Friday's finale was its 4504th episode. Australian and international celebrities sent in supportive farewell video messages, with thanks and well wishes coming from G Flip, Robert Irwin, Jess Mauboy, Andy Lee, Pete Murray, Dannii Minogue, Katy Perry, Guy Sebastian and Shane Jacobson. The Project's longest-serving host, Carrie Bickmore, was close to tears thanking everyone she crossed paths with over 13 years. Ms Bickmore left the show to devote herself fully to fundraising efforts. Channel 10 is owned by US entertainment giant Paramount Global. Originally published as Convicted drug smuggler Debbie Voulgaris gives exclusive interview to 10 News+ from Taiwan prison
