I wish that all the time but that's the cards I've been dealt and I have to face up with it.
Once inside the upper house, Xenophon had to wait for 90 minutes to be heard.
In the meantime, many of the key players in the ETSA issue would give last minute advice.
Once on his feet, Xenophon made it quite clear that he could see the economic benefits for the state
in selling the power assets at the right price, but there was one major if.
He claimed the government had no people's mandate to sell,
so he will only support the bill if a referendum is held.
Today, his criticism of Premier Olsen prior to the last election was scathing.
This is about a breach of trust, a breach of promise on the part of the government
that is just simply so fundamental that it just simply can't be ignored.
The fallout was immediate. The Premier was out of town for the decision.
The Treasurer was in no mood to talk.
Such a referendum would be costly, time-consuming and is likely to see a resounding no from the people.
The Democrats, who also oppose the sale, were surprised by Xenophon's clear-cut stance,
but will support a sale if the people say yes.
The idea of a referendum itself doesn't sound a bad one.
I mean, after all, most people thought they'd voted against it at the last election.
But not surprisingly, the Premier has totally ruled out a referendum.
In one way it's back to the drawing board, in another way he says he's going to press ahead
with the legislation, perhaps withdraw it now and introduce it again later.
Here's what Mr Olsen had to say just a short time ago.
I simply make the point in relation to a referendum.
Five million dollars to test the, quote, will of the people
when an issue such as this can be left open to distortion, misinformation
and misrepresentation for the political cut and thrust.
This issue is far too important for that.
I would want the passage of this legislation to pursue the Parliament in the first instance.
And I have no, the Government has given no consideration to a referendum
and would not be at this stage supporting a referendum.
This is but Chapter 1 or 2 of this process.
We will not relent on what we consider to be the most significant
and important policy issue confronting this State.
It would be easy to walk away.
A number of the media said to us, when the Democrats put their position down,
well, it's dead in the water.
Well, since that point of time, we have Mr Xenophon publicly supporting it
and Mr Cameron clearly supporting the merits of the case.
And we actually have, on that basis, a majority of the Legislative Council
supporting the merits of the sale process, why we made the decision to sell.
So are we any closer to an ETSA sale tonight, right here, right now?
Obviously, no.
Jane?
Thank you, Mike Smithson at Parliament.
Shoppers were terrified at an Ascot Park supermarket this afternoon
when two armed bandits burst through the doors.
They threatened customers and staff before grabbing cash.
A security guard chased them, but they got away.
Yeah, I was standing at the checkout waiting to get me groceries and walk out
and they just come barging in, yelling and screaming.
Foodland shoppers watched in horror as the two balaclava-clad bandits,
one armed with a pistol, the other a knife,
threatened lunchtime customers and cashiers.
It was most incredible, the noise of screaming noise.
Everybody was running around, the boys and the security,
and we were just standing there, wasn't quite sure what to do, where to go.
And there was a dog sort of behind the chicken rotisserie and somebody run past and say robbery.
The girls were in a panic because they couldn't open the tills,
they were shaking that much, but yeah, no.
So I think that's probably why they didn't hang around much longer than they did.
Foodland security guard chased the bandits around the corner,
but lost them after returning to pick up his car.
I would not advise that people do that, obviously because of their own safety,
but the employee acted in an impromptu way and he is to be credited for some degree for that.
Peter Caldicart, 7 Nightly News.
The South Australian leader of the One Nation party is embroiled in a gun controversy.
Len Spencer says he does not carry a gun.
Pauline Hanson has the distinct impression he does.
Mr Spencer says he's been set up by the media.
Do you recall telling David Oldfield that you actually drew your weapon on the One Nation premises
to defend yourself from an intruder?
Well, no, I haven't done that and I deny it.
One Nation Senate candidate Len Spencer taking a battering on last night's Four Corners.
Claims he had a concealed weapon were first raised by former One Nation member Alan Conn.
Mr Spencer says those making the allegations are just trying to bring down the party.
Do you own a gun?
No, I don't.
You don't carry a gun?
No, no, I don't carry a gun.
You're quite welcome to have a look if you like.
Mr Spencer admitted that in last night's program Pauline Hanson and David Etridge
appeared to support claims he carried a gun, but he believes it was a media set up.
Who's telling the truth over this issue?
Well, it's not a matter of telling the truth, it's a matter of how the question was put to them.
Mr Spencer says the South Australian branch of One Nation is one of the strongest across the country
and he has the full support of Pauline Hanson and David Oldfield.
If I didn't have the complete support of them I wouldn't be here.
Phil Luke, 7 Nightly News.
A 28-year-old man's been acquitted of the murder of another man
during a fight at the Colon Aids shopping centre last year.
Late last week the accused man's girlfriend also was acquitted
after a judge found she had no case to answer.
The fight in the Colon Aids shopping centre last May was over 20-year-old kangarilla woman Rebecca Myers.
The victim, a 28-year-old man named Robert Burns, had made an indecent remark about Ms Myers
as he passed her on an escalator.
Burns then spat at Myers' boyfriend, Stephen Stansfield, and dared him to do something about it.
During the fight which followed the victim suffered a brain hemorrhage and died several days later.
Police charged both Stansfield and Myers with murder, but now both have been freed.
The jury deliberated for just over four hours before returning to the courtroom with two verdicts.
The foreman told the judge they found Stansfield not guilty of murder,
and also by a unanimous vote not guilty of manslaughter.
Stansfield was immediately released.
As he left the court Stansfield said he was relieved and there was only one thing he wanted to do now.
Celebrate.
Graham Hunter, 7 Nightly News.
Australia's poised to get its seventh state.
The Prime Minister has announced the top end will vote in a referendum allowing for statehood from 2001.
The new addition will be called the State of the Northern Territory.
From the turn of the century the Northern Territory will be a territory no more.
The goal is that the Northern Territory should become a state of the Commonwealth on the 1st of January in the year 2001.
Australia's final frontier is one of our biggest export earners.
Statehood could give Territorians another windfall worth millions of dollars.
We would seek to be treated on the same basis as other states in South Australia.
They receive the uranium royalties.
The Territory will stay in the title.
The State of the Northern Territory is no more perhaps contradictory than New South Wales.
But there are a couple of other problems that have to be sorted out.
The Territory only elects two senators at the moment, but there's no way they're getting the 12 each state has.
One formula that has been discussed is that at the time of statehood you might go to three with a formula for adding as population rose.
And when the Territory becomes a state do we have to add another point to the Federation Star on every Australian flag?
Either way, Territorians will vote on statehood in a referendum at the next Federal election.
In Canberra, Jeff Brouche, Seven Nightly News.
And that election may not be far away.
With the Government to unveil its GST package in just two days, a new poll showing a big rise in Coalition support.
The report by the Independent Productivity Commission says our existing tax system costs the economy $22 billion a year.
The current indirect tax system, which imposes costs on business inputs, costs Australia jobs.
The Government's GST package will abolish most of those taxes and reimburse exporters for others.
And Mr Costello's signalling Petrol X-Ice will be among them.
Petrol X-Ice, even a Petrol X-Ice of four cents a litre, add to manufacturing costs by about $6 billion.
Senior Cabinet Ministers believe if the tax launch is successful, Mr Howard may only wait three weeks before calling an election, setting himself up for a mid-October poll.
That planning's been boosted by Australia's most reliable voter survey, showing the Coalition bouncing back, now level pegging with the Opposition.
In Canberra, Glen Mern, Seven Nightly News.
Still to come, random drug tests for bus and train drivers.
And Flack for Telstra accused of making millions of dollars extra from its mobile phone network.
On Today Tonight.
Catching our biggest welfare cheats.
But he owns a big house up here, he owns another block of land.
How they've pocketed millions.
And he hasn't worked for five years.
Now the tricks that catch them out.
Let's start checking where the money's coming from.
6.30 tonight.
You ain't seen nothing yet.
Did you know New Camry is the only Australian built wagon with a totally fold flat rear seat?
Here's something that you're never gonna forget.
And that it has three space-saving child restraint anchorage points.
And a versatile 60-40 split seat.
You ain't seen nothing yet.
New Camry Sportwagon from 26-5-50.
What a feeling.
Seeing is believing.
Thank you.
Great, thank you.
I thought that was in Mothworks.
No, when I use that it's money off the mortgage.
Money off the mortgage?
It's a tiny little home pack.
Sue and I use the 55-day free credit on the card.
Leave our salaries in the bank's offset against the loan and bingo.
Money off the mortgage.
So your bank saves you interest on your home loan while you spend their money?
Yep.
Your bank can buy me another beer then.
Well you talk about desperation.
That is just fantastic work by Gwen Jenkins.
Now she's got a chance to convert Robbo.
No doubt about that Sandy from about 45 metres.
A difficult angle and a stuttering approach but...
Oh she's done it very, very nicely.
She's kicked her third, given the Tigers a chance...
With an ANZ Visa footy card you can score points with your favourite team.
...break start to her career.
No doubt about Gwen.
She's red in the eye of the needle.
Even if you have a healthy diet, things like stress,
natural ageing and overindulgence
can cause an imbalance of bacteria in the digestive system.
Your cult in your daily diet
provides enough beneficial bacteria to help keep your digestive system balanced
and working efficiently.
Your cult.
Have you had yours today?
If you'd like to be in the audience for the Crowes Rock and Roll debut on Live and Kicking,
listen to Triple M's Big Breakfast.
Let's go and have a look what's going on.
If you like what we do on the field...
Take a look what we do off the field.
9.30 Wednesday.
Bus, train and tram drivers will soon have to submit to random drug tests.
Trans Adelaide's introducing spot checks following erratic behaviour by a train driver
on the Outer Harbour Line last month.
The Public Transport Union supports the move.
Drivers suspected of drug taking will have to provide blood and urine samples for analysis.
Meanwhile, the pay dispute between Serco and its drivers is over after successful talks today.
Australia is to give $100,000 to the victims of the embassy bombings in Africa.
And as the death toll from the blasts edged towards 200 today,
the United States announced a $3 million award for the capture of those responsible.
In the twisted remains of the US embassies,
it is now a search not only for survivors, but also for crucial evidence.
FBI agents are slowly and carefully sifting through the debris looking for clues.
They say it will be a long investigation.
Today, the United States placed a bounty on the terrorists, more than $3 million.
We will do whatever we can to bring the murderers to justice.
While the prime suspect remains Saudi millionaire Osama bin Laden,
police in Tanzania have detained a dozen men believed to be Iraqi or Sudanese nationals.
In the crumpled office building next to the embassy, rescuers are digging with their bare hands.
The site is too unstable for heavy machinery.
Yesterday, they heard noises from beneath the rubble,
and there was hope that a woman called Rose was still alive.
Today, they repeatedly called her name.
We are trying to receive a reply with the knocks of stone.
But there was no response, and there is fear that this act of terror has claimed yet another life.
In London, John Bores, 7 Nightly News.
A report into the telecommunications industry claims customers are leaving Telstra in droves.
The same report found Telstra is raking in millions of dollars on high local and mobile call charges to make up for losses.
Telstra was the giant of the Australian telecommunications industry.
But since the long-distance telephone market was opened up, half of Telstra's customers have left, joining other competitors.
Shareholders should be worried because the price at the moment is based on hype and not on the future of Telstra.
The future of Telstra looks pretty bleak.
Paul Boudet has just published a report on the telecommunications industry.
He claims Telstra is losing support due to poor customer service.
He also claims the company is making up for losses by charging expensive rates for calls made from fixed home or office phones to mobile phones.
I thought I was just paying the 25 cent rate.
Obviously, those sort of things are not advertised. People aren't told.
Industry experts say consumers shouldn't pay extra.
It's totally outrageous that they charge this high.
It's a one billion dollar sort of rip-off from us that Telstra takes out of the fixed to mobile market.
We asked Telstra to respond to the report's findings and to explain their core cost to mobile phones.
But the company said the charging system was complex and declined our invitation to appear on camera.
Helen Wellings, Seven Nightly News.
Time for sport now with Chris, who's finally stopped crying.
And the heat's on for a game of the crows, Chris.
Yes, Graham, it's a good thing, I suppose.
We talked to Mark Stevens, who says it's a real battle among the new players to get a game.
Also after the break, England bathing in Test Cricket glory after beating South Africa and Sydney 2000 getting closer with the naming of our Commonwealth Games team.
It's the characters and drama that makes All Saints a success.
There's Steph, the nurse and mum-to-be, who's about to face a crisis.
Am I losing the baby?
I'm not sure yet.
Luke, the ambitious dog who lusts for one but loves another.
And the lovable Brom, whose father she's keeping secret.
I can't stand what he is.
Holding everything together is sister Terri Sullivan.
It reminds me to respect my staff. In fact, I insist on it.
Get to know the people of All Saints tonight, 8.30 on Seven.
Gold.
Up to 50% off.
Gold.
Up to 50% off.
Gold.
Up to 50% off all gold jewellery.
I think I've got it.
Gold fever. Catch it now at Zammels and save up to 50%.
Oh.
Zammels Jewellers.
In every bowl of new Kellogg's Golden Wheats, you get the goodness of Australian wheat.
So naturally, they're delicious.
You also get iron to help carry oxygen around the body, as well as folate to help make healthy cells.
They're low in fat, low in sugar.
They have four big group vitamins and carbohydrates for energy.
There's a whole stack of reasons to try new Kellogg's Golden Wheats.
Ah, yes, Mr Weston, Frank here, with that Fancy Warden.
I was just wondering, where exactly is your house?
Uh-huh.
Up the driveway about two hours north.
Right.
And you want the fence all the way around?
Need to call from more places outdoors.
Mobile, then. And you can.
Bad. Mate.
You got anything on in the next few days?
Australian Motor's Big Lancer Runout is on now and it's worth a great, great deal.
Like new Lancer GLI Coupe with free air for just $79.90.
Yes, only $79.90 with free air.
Driving with Australian Motor's car.
Don't worry about the Asian crisis.
Don't worry about the World Cup.
The really big news.
Snowballs are back. Pack a bait, $1.
You better buy these big bags of Murphy's chips for just $1.
You got a chip on your shoulder?
No.
Tiac, 4-Hour VHS, just $3.99.
If your vision looks like this, you may need reading glasses, $3.50.
Psst. Fashion Quartz watches, $10.
Men's laddies, kids' top socks, $2 a pair.
Big bars of chocolate, three for $2.
Oh, they're out of code.
News tools of Brighton and Elizabeth South.
The Night Sport Report, proudly brought to you by Reese,
where bathrooms, kitchens and laundries come together.
Welcome back.
And the Adelaide Crows have conceded some players played above themselves
in last year's final series, helping them win their maiden Premiership.
The trick is, how do they make it happen again?
It was the likes of Goodwin, Sampson, Grintool, Keating and Allen
who produced Herculean efforts in last year's finals,
sweeping the club to Premiership success.
The quality they displayed maybe was a very pleasant surprise to us.
Obviously, we thought Simon Goodwin was a very good player all the time,
and some of the other boys probably did play a little bit above themselves,
which obviously helped us get the result we got.
I think our best players had a very good series as well if you go through it,
so then it's very easy to play when the side,
when your best players are playing well, you tend to join in.
Now there's a new group of fringe players still fighting for their places in the side.
The Crows' hope will help make the difference come September.
James Tyson is just starting to find his feet now,
so maybe someone like him could sneak under someone's guard.
He's starting to play well, and I think again,
I think a player like Brett James is still lifting again,
Simon Goodwin's still lifting again, and they're still playing very well.
Ben Marsh did a very good job under some difficult circumstances last week,
and Mark Stevens, a recruit who we've obviously got from North Melbourne,
the last two weeks has been excellent, it's an half-back.
Certainly Andrew Eccles is coming along nicely, he's playing very solidly.
I was speaking to Andrew last night, we were just saying how much pressure there is
just to hold a spot in the team, there's that many blokes,
there's that much depth at the club, it's really hard just to hold a spot down.
Stevens just missed out on a lap of honour at the MCG two years ago with North Melbourne.
That was one of the emergencies, but that doesn't really mean much at all, does it?
But we did win the reserves that year, and it was a very good year
to win both Premierships, and it was a lot of partying and enjoyment.
Then I've come to this Premier's of last year, so I've got to get my net in there somewhere.
Dion Hayman, Seven Nightly News.
The AFL and its players' association are heading for a showdown on free agency.
The players are desperate for it, the clubs are against it,
and the league says such a rule would kill off some Melbourne-based clubs.
Free agency's been at work in the United States for years,
allowing long-serving players who satisfy certain criteria to switch clubs at will.
Surveys have shown the concept now has overwhelming support among AFL players.
The players would just like to investigate restricted free agency,
meaning that if a player serves a club for 10 years or has played 200 games,
then that player has the ability and the right to play for whatever club he deems or wants to.
The players' union, headed by new boss Andrew Demetrio,
will soon begin negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with the league.
Free agency, one of the hottest topics.
The fact that a player, after a certain period of time,
can really come in and dictate to the club and maybe force his price up,
I think it's probably a bit early yet and we certainly are opposed to it at this point of time.
Free agency would be enormously inflationary to the player payments
and therefore certainly in Melbourne put the very survival of some clubs under some threat.
We don't want any clubs to fold, certainly our members are part of those clubs,
so certainly it's not in our best interest.
It's not yet known what the qualification criteria will be,
but Darren Jarman could be an early test case.
He's out of contract at the end of next season.
Paul Dowling, Seven Nightly News.
World champion Cathy Freeman will spearhead Australia's track and field team
for next month's Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
The 79-member squad includes 28 first-time senior athletes.
They'll carry our hopes on the track and in the field at next month's Games,
amongst them 11 athletes under the age of 21, as well as names like Freeman and Forsythe.
Among those who'll be making their debut as an Australian senior representative,
sprint sensation 19-year-old Matt Shervington,
who'll be running for gold in the 1-200 metres and the men's 4x1 relay.
As youngsters talked about this and sort of had dreams and aspirations to be here right now
and it's happening and it's pretty amazing.
But returning from a drug ban, Dean Capa Bianco missed out on selection.
Tasaka and the Seven Network have secured a long-term deal
to broadcast the game over the next decade.
In the next 12 months alone, Seven hopes to show over 100 matches.
And England has sounded a warning to Australia ahead of this summer's Ashes battle,
winning their first full test series in more than a decade.
England needed only seven overs to wrap up the South African tail.
Local hero Darren Goff sealing a memorable 23-run victory, but in dubious circumstances.
Barth the suspect LBW gave the home side a 2-1 win in the series,
their first since 1986-87 and good reason to celebrate.
And for tonight, that's our sport. Have a good evening. Here's Jane.
Thanks Chris, but just before you go, you and a couple of Foody Stars went down for a special school visit this afternoon.
We did, Jane. Yes, it was a great day.
We went to the Townsend School for the Vision impaired at Hove
and Nick Stevens and Ben Hart came along.
And we want to thank them both and the clubs, the Crows and Port Adelaide, for helping us out
because back in March, I think it was, the school gymnasium burnt down
and the kids needed a bit of a boost and Ben Hart there is just talking to kids.
They were terrific. Nick Stevens as well.
The school had a band, they played the club songs.
We had a great day down there, so thanks to everyone involved.
And you managed to sing the Port song without too many tears. Just.
You could have. Well, you've forgotten the words.
Thanks Chris. Well, new is next with the weather.
And a new customer for the extended Adelaide Airport runway.
It's happy. It's sad.
Maybe it's the rain last night and currently in the city, it's 14.4 degrees.
Interstate today, they had some showers in Canberra, Melbourne and Hobart, and it was fine elsewhere.
On the chart, we can see a high pressure system which will dominate our weather tomorrow,
directing a north to north westly flow over our state, which will freshen during the day
and then strengthen on Friday. Friday will be quite warm with a top of 24,
but cloud increasing later in the day and some rain coming through
as the low pressure system comes up from the southwest and produces some rain overnight Friday night,
rain easing to showers on Saturday with a top of 16 and Sunday becoming fine and a top of 18 degrees.
The time lapse satellite photograph shows the pool of cold air,
which produced the snow in Victoria is now moving out to the Tasman Sea,
and we've got relatively clear skies, so a cold night in store for us tonight.
Interstate tomorrow, some showers in Perth, but elsewhere it should be fine.
Around our state today, maximum temperatures range from 12 degrees at Mount Crawford
up to 26 degrees at Mount Dare in the far north of the state,
and the top rainfall gauging was five millimetres of rain at Warrooka.
On the NOAA satellite photograph, we can see a little bit of high level cloud out in the Bight region
associated with the high, but most areas of the state tonight will expect cold nights
with below average minimum temperatures.
The state forecast for tonight and tomorrow, some possible showers in the southeast
will clear tomorrow, overnight frost and fogs.
In fact, there's a slight risk of fog, frost, sorry, I'm getting my frogs and frost
around the wrong way.
Tonight in the Riverland, Barossa and Coonawarra, state temperatures tomorrow
ranging from 18 degrees at Kingsco and Mount Gambier
up to 25 degrees at Coober Pedy and Sarduna, where conditions will be sunny.
For the outer metropolitan area tomorrow, Elizabeth 21, Mount Barker 19
and Nalunga looking at a top of 20.
On local waters, variable winds to five knots, turning around to northeast to north
and freshening to 17 to 22 knots during the day and seas rising to one metre.
The UV index for tomorrow is five, which is high.
The forecast for Adelaide is for a fine and sunny day after a cold night,
from 20 to 8 tonight, top tomorrow of 21.
Looking at Friday, it will be fine and warm at first with a top of 24,
but cloud increasing and northerly winds strengthening,
with the rain to come later, cooling us off on Saturday down to 16
and the rain easing to showers.
And Sunday shouldn't be too bad, maybe a clearing shower about the hills
and a top there of 16 degrees.
So it really is spring and it really is changeable.
That's all for me tonight. Back to you, Katrina.
Thanks, Jane. And I believe you took part in a special event today.
Yes, Katrina, a very inspiring event.
I was invited by Andrew Jarman from Triple M
to go out to Towson House School for visually impaired children
to open their sports day.
And Andrew had some inspiring words and medals which had been donated.
Every child got a medal and they all took part.
Some of them had to use their fingers to see what was on the medals
or feel what was on the medals.
And there they are in the 100 metre sprint, doing a fabulous job.
And John Cale there on the flag.
And there's a special trophy which has been left at the school
so that each year a student will receive it.
So it was a fabulous day. Thanks for letting me be part of it.
Looks like a great day. Tomorrow night in 10 News at 5.
A young man aiming to register a first for South Australia.
He's in line for...
..the first ever
Suns and today it's all cloud.
In spite of the overcast conditions, only isolated light falls were recorded.
0.6 millimetres was the highest gauging and that was at robe.
Temperatures were about average, ranging from 12 degrees at Mt Crawford
up to 23 at Tar Cooler.
The cloud is set to stick around and will produce isolated showers
over the southern settled areas tonight and tomorrow
with some intermittent rain in the southeast,
but the Bureau doesn't expect the falls to be very heavy.
On metropolitan waters, north and northwest winds
are expected to freshen to 17 to 22 knots tomorrow morning,
then shift west to southwesterly 15 to 20 knots during the afternoon
with seas rising 1 to 2 metres.
And the cloud conditions will continue in the city
with a few drizzly showers overnight and tomorrow,
particularly about the hills, down to a mild 11 tonight,
then up to a top around 17 tomorrow.
And looking ahead, a shower or two will persist Thursday 16,
becoming a fine Friday, and a fine start to the weekend Saturday
and a seven-day forecast as it should stay fine until this time next week.
Good night.
Thanks, Noah. Well, finally, there's a new bird in town
and she's turning more than a few heads.
Aircraft enthusiasts were out in force this morning
to witness the arrival of the new breed of Boeing 777 planes,
capable of carrying nearly 400 passengers.
The Rolls-Royce-powered twin-engine jets form part of
Malaysian Airlines' thrice-weekly services
between Adelaide and Kuala Lumpur.
Interesting fascination we have with planes, isn't it?
They are amazing things.
They're useful.
Especially if they stay up.
Yes.
Good night.
Hello, and welcome to Today Tonight. Thank you for joining me.
Tonight, paunchy pets fighting the Battle of the Bulge
and the clinic putting dogs on diets and counting kilojoules for cats.
I've never seen a dog or a cat with a can opener.
The onus is on the owner.
Prevention is certainly worth a pound of cure in that respect.
But first tonight, to catch a cheat.
And unfortunately, when it comes to welfare payments,
there's plenty of cheats to catch.
They've been stealing millions of dollars every week,
and some getting away with it for years,
with scams that are often surprisingly simple.
But a recently established government unit
using high-tech surveillance cameras
has been caught in the act.
The government has been using the
high-tech surveillance cameras to track down
and track down the scams that are often surprisingly simple.
But a recently established government unit
using high-tech surveillance procedures
is having remarkable success in bringing the rorts
finally to the table.
The government has been using high-tech surveillance cameras
to track down and track down the scams that are often surprisingly simple.
But a recently established government unit
using high-tech surveillance procedures
is having remarkable success in bringing the rorts
finally to an end.
Amanda Patterson has the story.
Derek Shelford looks as if he wouldn't have two cents to rub together.
But don't let the unkept beard and understated clothing fool you.
A modern-day rip-off chameleon, forged medical certificates,
ensured him the aliases of Eric Shepard, David Papuni and John Scott.
Shelford then received unemployment and sickness benefits,
disability support pensions, job search allowances
and rent assistance under all four identities.
Not a bad haul for a homeless bloke diagnosed as borderline retarded.
So if someone is diagnosed as borderline retarded,
how on earth do they cheat the system for 14 years?
Well, I think it was the systems were in place at that particular time
and nobody had put him in to the department.
He'd done it in such a way that he was going to different offices
and he wasn't detected for those reasons.
Federal Police Officer Gary Willis has seen every welfare rip-off ploy in the book.
How much money could a clever cheat get away with?
Well, how long's a piece of string?
I really don't know.
One would presume the cleverest criminals haven't been caught.
This one was.
Raymond Roach wouldn't know an honest day's work if it was offered to him.
The only job he ever did well was on the government.
A sophisticated seven-year, $300,000 operation,
he had 27 different identities,
which meant keeping track of 27 bank accounts at 27 different branches.
So he was a busy boy.
Extraordinarily busy.
He'd have to go to different department offices,
different days taking different identity cards.
He'd have to go to different post offices.