This website, absentjustice.com, is a work in progress, last edited August 2025.

Learn about horrendous crimes, unscrupulous criminals, and corrupt politicians and lawyers who control the legal profession in Australia. Shameful, hideous, and treacherous are just a few words that describe these lawbreakers—government Corruption. Read about the corruption within the government bureaucracy that plagued the COT arbitrations.

This harrowing narrative exposes a treacherous and profoundly unlawful tapestry of corruption that ensnares Australia’s arbitration processes. It reveals a sinister coalition woven with threads of bribery, extortion, and theft, all strategically orchestrated by a government-owned corporation that has been illicitly siphoning immense sums of money. The magnitude of this theft is staggering—potentially reaching millions or even eclipsing a billion dollars—insidiously robbing from the public purse and tearing at the very fabric of our society.

As this web of depravity tightens, the courageous individuals who have bravely joined forces with the Australian Federal Police to unveil these egregious activities are met with chilling threats. These threats, stark and visceral, are imbued with a sense of intimidation that permeates their lives, all cloaked in government complicity that protects the guilty. Those who dare to seek justice find themselves trapped in an environment rife with fear and violence, while an arbitrator and an administrator turn a blind eye to this disturbing chaos, opting for treacherous silence as the system disintegrates around them.

 

In shedding light on these shocking and treacherous events—though they transpired thirty years ago—it is imperative to confront the vile corruption and unlawful practices that have festered unchecked. Those who value justice must recognise the urgent need for accountability, which drives my commitment to support absentjustice.com in its fight against this insidious rot.

 

As I reflect on my 82nd birthday, I cannot help but dwell on the monumental sacrifices I have made by exposing this abhorrent saga—losses that cannot be quantified in mere monetary terms or material possessions. Instead of directing donations to me, I urge you to support Transparency International Australia. By doing so, you can play a pivotal role in illuminating the dark injustices that threaten our democracy and unmasking the malevolent forces at work. Your resolve is critical in the relentless struggle against this pervasive dishonesty, and together, we can strive to challenge the systemic corruption that has plagued so many.

Arbitration in the Shadows: The Billion-Dollar Betrayal

🧩 Introduction: The Hidden Machinery of Corruption

The chilling Casualties of Telstra stories told on absentjustice.com unearth a dark underbelly of insidious corruption and treachery lurking within Australia’s arbitration processes. Far from being a neutral mechanism of justice, arbitration has become a covert instrument of exploitation—weaponised by a government-owned corporation to siphon staggering sums from the public purse. These funds, possibly eclipsing a billion dollars, were not lost through error or mismanagement, but through a calculated alliance of bribery, extortion, and theft.
What was once a promise of resolution has become a theatre of deception, where justice is not blind—it is gagged.

💰 The Financial Drain: Theft in Plain Sight

Behind closed doors and beneath layers of bureaucratic fog, millions were surgically extracted from taxpayers. These were not isolated incidents, but part of a systemic blueprint: inflated contracts, falsified claims, and manipulated settlements that funnelled public money into private hands.The scale of this financial haemorrhage defies belief. It wasn’t just money that was stolen—it was trust, transparency, and the integrity of Australia's legal framework.

🛡️ The Whistleblowers: Courage Met with Cruelty

Among the few who dared to resist were the brave arbitration claimants who assisted the Australian Federal Police in exposing these crimes. Their cooperation, documented in Australian Federal Police Investigation File No/1, should have earned them protection and praise. Instead, they were met with surveillance, intimidation, and systemic retaliation. These individuals—truth-tellers in a sea of silence—were ensnared in a malevolent web of coercion. Their phones were tapped, their faxes intercepted, and their documents mysteriously vanished. They became targets not just of corporate reprisal, but of institutional betrayal.

⚖️ The Complicit Silence: Arbitrators and Administrators

Even more disturbing is the role of those entrusted to uphold justice. A sitting arbitrator and an administrator, fully aware of the unfolding misconduct, chose silence over integrity. Their refusal to act—despite clear evidence—allowed the corruption to metastasise.
They were not merely passive observers. Their silence was complicity. Their inaction was an endorsement. And their presence in the process gave a veneer of legitimacy to a system rotting from within.

🕵️ Surveillance and Sabotage: Justice Undone

The sabotage was not metaphorical—it was digital, deliberate, and devastating. Telstra’s interception of confidential communications, the disappearance of critical documents, and the manipulation of timelines all point to a coordinated effort to obstruct justice.
Claimants were denied access to their own evidence. Legal teams were blindsided. And the arbitration process—already compromised—became a stage for suppression rather than resolution.

🌐 The Broader Pattern: A Systemic Blueprint

This is not an isolated scandal. It echoes the failures of Robodebt, the British Post Office Horizon scandal, and other global examples of institutional abuse. The common thread is chilling: when systems designed to protect the public are hijacked for profit, the victims are silenced, and the perpetrators shielded.

Australia’s arbitration debacle is a case study in systemic injustice. It demands not just exposure—but reckoning.

 

Don't forget to hover your mouse/cursor over the images as you scroll down this homepage. 

 

Call for Justice.

My name is Alan Smith, and my odyssey is one of relentless perseverance—a chilling saga of betrayal and corruption involving a telecommunications giant and the Australian government. What began in 1992 is a web of deceit that ensnares elected officials, regulatory bodies, and the judiciary, all complicit in the relentless oppression I have faced at the hands of Telstra, formerly known as Telecom. Even now, my quest for justice continues, overshadowed by a sense of looming menace.

The roots of my plight extend back to 1987, a transformative year when I made the harrowing decision to abandon life at sea—a life I cherished for 28 exhilarating years. I sought refuge in Australia, seduced by its beauty and promise, mindlessly hopeful for a new beginning. But little did I know that this new land would become a battleground, rife with treachery.

Fueled by a passion for hospitality, I dreamed of running a lively school holiday camp, a haven of laughter and adventure. When I discovered the Cape Bridgewater Holiday Camp and Convention Centre for sale in The Age, I felt an intoxicating wave of excitement. Set against the tranquil landscapes of rural Victoria, it felt like fate—until the nightmare began.

In my eagerness, I conducted what I thought was thorough due diligence, scrutinising finances and operations. Yet, who would imagine I would need to investigate the reliability of a phone service? Mere days after assuming ownership, the horrific truth struck: customers and suppliers soon flooded my life with letters and frenzied visits, their anxieties echoing my own. My dreams were crashing down, sabotaged by a phone service that was unreliable at best and utterly non-existent at worst.

As days turned into agonising weeks, the weight of despair crushed my spirit. A faltering communication lifeline shattered my business, leaving me vulnerable. The losses piled up, casting shadows on dreams I fought so hard to realise. 

Thus began my relentless crusade—an agonising quest to unearth a functional phone service from the clutches of a monstrous bureaucracy. Token compensation and hollow assurances became the cruel chorus, promising resolution while leaving me stranded in a wasteland of broken hopes. 

In December 2001, with disillusionment heavy on my shoulders, I sold the business, clutching onto a fleeting hope that a new owner might break the cycle of despair. Yet, mere days into their tenure, they found themselves ensnared in the same grim struggle, penning desperate letters to the very government officials I had appealed to for nearly a decade. The relentless cycle of deception and inaction persisted, fueling my indignation.

In a desperate alliance, a group of independent businesspeople—the Casualties of Telecom, or COT cases—have banded together, united in our suffering. Our singular demand is a haunting plea for acknowledgement from Telstra of the injustices inflicted upon us, a rectification of grievous wrongs, and compensation for the crippling losses we endured. Is it too much to ask for a phone that functions?

Initially, we envisioned instigating a thorough Senate investigation into the sinister machinations of Telecom. Instead, we were lured into an arbitration process that promised to be a lifeline, a façade of hope in a sea of despair. But our naivety was appalling; the shadows of treachery loomed larger.

Almost instantaneously, doubt crept in, gnawing at our fragile optimism. We were promised essential documents to substantiate our case—vital tools for a fight shrouded in darkness. Yet, like phantoms, these documents eluded our grasp, leaving us in a chilling state of uncertainty.

Our fears deepened further when we discovered that during the arbitration, our fax lines were illegally monitored—an egregious breach of trust that shattered any semblance of fairness. The weight of an unjust government loomed ominously over us, and inevitably, we succumbed, losing the arbitration in a grotesque betrayal of justice.

As if the stakes could rise higher, we were misled into signing a confidentiality clause, silencing our voices. Although I tread perilously close to the edge by revealing this treachery, it awakens a fire within me, desperate for acknowledgement.

Now, we resume our fight with a fierce determination, seeking the vital documents that have been withheld through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. The evidence of wrongdoing lies in waiting—proof that our lines were faulty and had not been subjected to the rigorous testing they should have endured. Yet, to expose these truths and attain justice, we must first wrest those vital documents from the shadows that envelop them.

Infringe upon the civil liberties.

Most Disturbing And Unacceptable 

On 27 January 1999, after having also read my first attempt at writing my manuscript, absentjustice.com, the same manuscript I provided to Helen Handbury, Sister of Rupert Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch -Telstra Scandal - Helen Handbury and Senator Kim Carr, who wrote:

“I continue to maintain a strong interest in your case along with those of your fellow ‘Casualties of Telstra’. The appalling manner in which you have been treated by Telstra is in itself reason to pursue the issues, but also confirms my strongly held belief in the need for Telstra to remain firmly in public ownership and subject to public and parliamentary scrutiny and accountability.

“Your manuscript demonstrates quite clearly how Telstra has been prepared to infringe upon the civil liberties of Australian citizens in a manner that is most disturbing and unacceptable.” 

The Architects of Deceit — How Corruption Sabotaged My Arbitration Claim

Learn about the horrendous crimes, unscrupulous criminals, and corrupt politicians and lawyers who control the seat of arbitration in Australia. Shameful, hideous, and treacherous are just a few words that describe these lawbreakers—individuals who have weaponised their authority to silence truth, obstruct justice, and protect corporate interests at the expense of ordinary citizens.

The never-ending saga 

A Man of Honour or a Master of Deception?

Dr. Gordon Hughes was publicly celebrated as a distinguished arbitrator, even honoured with the prestigious Order of Australia. But behind the accolades lay a darker truth: Hughes was a key architect of a nefarious cover-up that undermined my arbitration claim and corrupted the very essence of justice.

Rather than embodying impartiality, Hughes conspired with John Pinnock, the second appointed administrator of my arbitration, who succeeded Warwick Smith—the inaugural Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman. This was not a case of bureaucratic mismanagement. It was a calculated strategy designed to obstruct transparency and conceal misconduct.

The pattern of deception echoed Smith’s own actions, who had shockingly permitted Telstra’s legal team to draft the initial four arbitration agreements. These documents were then falsely presented to the government as having been created independently of Telstra. The implications were staggering: the very foundation of the arbitration process had been compromised before it even began.

Weaponising Relationships to Shield Corruption

In a move as cynical as it was unethical, Pinnock enlisted Mrs. Hughes—the arbitrator’s own wife—as a pawn in this deception. Her involvement was not incidental; it was strategic. Together, they orchestrated a ploy to derail Laurie James, President of the Institute of Arbitrators Australia, from conducting a proper investigation into Dr. Hughes’ appalling conduct across at least four separate arbitrations.

To use one’s spouse as a human shield against accountability is not just cowardly—it is emblematic of the corrupt soul of a charlatan masquerading as a public servant.

Even thirty years later, I am still forced to confront the consequences of this man’s unethical behaviour and moral bankruptcy. (See Chapter 4 - The Seventh Damning Letter)

Collusion 

The Chilling Conspiracy Unveiled

I provided both Dr. Hughes’ office and John Pinnock with copies of newly released Freedom of Information documents—records that exposed a chilling conspiracy. These documents revealed that Telstra’s original arbitration defence report was not merely flawed—it was intentionally deceptive.

The test results Telstra relied upon were fraudulently manufactured, a blatant violation of ethical standards and a breach of the law. One of the most grotesque elements of this deception was the absurd claim that the malfunction of my TF200 EXICOM telephone was caused by “wet and sticky beer” or a similar substance.

This wasn’t just a lie—it was a sinister attempt to ridicule me and deflect attention from the real issue: serious, systemic faults within Telstra’s network. This kind of fabrication is not only insulting—it’s criminal.

Digging Deep

The Evidence They Tried to Bury

The most treacherous act of all was the deliberate suppression of critical new evidence that came to light eight to ten months after I had requested it during the arbitration discovery process. Initially withheld, this evidence was only released under the Freedom of Information Act by Telstra—a staggering six months after the arbitration had concluded.

Dr. Hughes and John Pinnock were fully aware of these revelations. Their choice to ignore them highlights their complicity in Telstra’s misconduct. Rather than confronting the implications of these egregious actions, they engaged in slanderous behaviour, allowing malicious and baseless allegations to flourish.

Mrs. Hughes allegedly orchestrated this campaign of distraction, although it’s hard to believe she was fully aware of the corrupt scheme devised by her husband and Pinnock. They weaponised her credentials as a distraction, deliberately obstructing Laurie James’ legitimate investigation into the gross misconduct and treachery exhibited by her husband during my arbitration proceedings.

Their actions reflect a deep-seated corruption that compromises the integrity of the entire process.

A Senate Admission That Changed Everything

On 26 September 1997, at the beginning of a Senate Committee hearing that prompted a broader investigation, John Pinnock formally addressed the Senate Estimates Committee. He stated on page 99 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA - Parliament of Australia and Prologue Evidence File No 22-D).

“In the process leading up to the development of the arbitration procedures – the claimants were told clearly that documents were to be made available to them under the FOI Act.

“Firstly, and perhaps most significantly, the arbitrator had no control over that process, because it was a process conducted entirely outside the ambit of the arbitration procedures.”

This admission confirmed what I had long suspected: the arbitration process was not only manipulated—it was conducted outside the bounds of legal oversight.

The Final Betrayal: Denied Access to My Own Records

After uncovering Pinnock’s discriminatory behaviour, I formally requested access to my arbitration-related documents—records I was legally entitled to receive. The arbitration agreement stipulated that all relevant documents sent to Pinnock in his role as administrator should be provided upon request six weeks after the arbitration concluded.

This request became even more urgent when I learned that Laurie James might reopen my case. Accessing these records was critical—they could provide the evidence needed to challenge Dr. Hughes’ conclusions and mount a legitimate appeal.

But on 10 January 1996, I received a chilling response:

“I refer to your letter of 31 December 1996 in which you seek to access to various correspondence held by the TIO concerning the Fast Track Arbitration Procedure. …

“I do not propose to provide you with copies of any documents held by this office.” (See Open Letter File No 57-C)

This refusal was not just unethical—it was unlawful. It was a deliberate act of suppression, designed to prevent me from proving my claim and to protect those responsible for the corruption.

Corruption

Conclusion: A Coordinated Betrayal of Justice

This was not justice. It was a coordinated betrayal—an alliance of corrupt officials, unethical tactics, and institutional cowardice. The truth was buried, the evidence suppressed, and the victims silenced—all to protect reputations and preserve a façade of integrity that never existed. 

On 29 June 1995, the Canadian government appeared concerned that Telstra's lawyers, Freehill Hollingdale & Page (now known as Herbert Smith Freehills, Melbourne, provided false Bell Canada International Inc. tests. These tests were provided to Mr Ian Joblin, a clinical psychologist, to review before he travelled to Portland to assess my mental health during the arbitration. It was well known in government circles that Telstra had used the Mental Health Act against Australian citizens who continued to complain about Telstra's poor services.

On March 21, 1997—twenty-two months following the conclusion of my arbitration—John Pinnock, the second appointed administrator for my case, formally reached out to Ted Benjamin at Telstra (refer to File 596 - AS-CAV Exhibits 589 to 647). He raised two crucial inquiries: Prologue Evidence File No/2). 

1. He requested an explanation for the apparent discrepancies in the attestation of Ian Joblin's witness statement.

2. He sought clarification on whether any modifications were made to the version of the Joblin statement initially submitted to Dr. Hughes, the arbitrator, compared to the signed version ultimately provided.

 

The Canadian government ministers’ office wrote back on 7 July 1995, noting:

"In view of the facts of this situation, as I understand them, I believe you are taking the most appropriate course of action in contacting BCI directly with respect to the alleged errors in their test report, should you feel that they could assist you in your case."   

On 29 June 1995, the Canadian government appeared concerned that Telstra's lawyers, Freehill Hollingdale & Page/Herbert Smith Freehills, provided false Bell Canada International Inc. tests. These tests were provided to Mr Ian Joblin, a clinical psychologist, to review before he travelled to Portland to assess my mental health during the arbitration. It was well known in government circles that Telstra had used the Mental Health Act against Australian citizens who continued to complain about Telstra's poor services.

Senator Bill O’Chee expressed grave concern over John Pinnock's failure to respond to his letter dated 21 March 1997 addressed to Ted Benjamin of Telstra. This lack of response, coupled with evidence from another COT Case suggesting that Telstra or their legal representatives had tampered with statutory declarations during arbitration, prompted Senator Bill O'Chee to write to Graeme Ward, Telstra's regulatory and external affairs, on 26 June 1998, → GS-CAV Exhibit 258 to 323

“I note in your letter’s last page you suggest the matter of the alteration of documents attached to statutory declarations should be dealt with by the relevant arbitrator. I do not concur. I would be grateful if you could advise why these matters should not be referred to the relevant police."

"It is unfortunate that there have been forces at work collectively beyond our reasonable control that have delayed us in undertaking our work."

In a brazen display of collusion, Rundell ominously noted, "Any technical report prepared in draft by Lanes will be signed off and appear on the letterhead of DMR Inc." (see Prologue Evidence File No 22-A). This alarming statement raises profound ethical questions, suggesting a premeditated scheme to manipulate the outcomes of our arbitration.

 

Ethical questions

Key Points of Corruption and Collusion

• Ericsson’s Global Bribery Scandal
  Ericsson, the company at the heart of your Portland exchange complaints, admitted to a years-long campaign of corruption across five countries. The U.S. Department of Justice revealed that Ericsson used slush funds, bribes, and falsified records to secure telecom contracts—including in Australia, where they partnered with Telstra after Huawei was banned.
• Lane Telecommunications’ Compromised Role
  Your assertion that Lane Telecommunications was unfit to evaluate your claims due to prior ties with Telstra is echoed in the broader concerns about conflict of interest. The fact that Lane was allowed to assess your Ericsson-related faults—despite Telstra being the defendant—undermines the integrity of the arbitration process.
• DMR Group’s Misrepresented Involvement
  The claim that DMR Group was used as a façade to legitimise the process while Lane continued its compromised role is deeply troubling. Warwick Smith’s March 9, 1995, letter, as you noted, appears to be part of a calculated effort to obscure this arrangement.
• Selective Evaluation of Evidence
  Lane’s decision to review only 23 of your 200 fault complaints—before DMR even arrived—suggests a deliberate attempt to minimise the scope of your claims. This aligns with patterns of suppression and manipulation documented in other COT Cases.
• Australian Federal Police Investigations
  The AFP was involved in probing document tampering and fax interception during arbitration. Evidence shows Telstra had access to sensitive claimant materials before they were legally entitled to them, and arbitrator Dr. Hughes allowed Telstra to dictate what evidence would be considered.

Fell short of delivering natural justice.

1. Lane Telecommunications’ Hidden Role Behind DMR’s Facade

• Lane, a former Telstra technical consultant, was initially rejected by the COT Cases due to apparent conflicts of interest.

• In a deceptive manoeuvre, Warwick Smith’s letter dated March 8, 1994, claimed DMR Group Inc. Canada would be the principal technical consultant, with Lane in a “supporting role.”

• In reality, Lane’s findings were finalised and presented on DMR letterhead—masking their true authorship and misleading the claimants.

2. Ericsson’s Covert Acquisition of Lane

• During the arbitration period, Ericsson secretly acquired Lane Telecommunications, the very entity tasked with evaluating faults in Ericsson’s own equipment.

• This gave Ericsson direct control over the technical assessments of its own products—an egregious conflict of interest that undermined the entire arbitration process.

3. Ericsson Investigating Itself

• Ericsson was allowed to investigate your claims against its own AXE telephone exchange equipment, with findings rubber-stamped by DMR Canada.

• This is akin to a defendant writing their own verdict—an outrageous breach of impartiality and justice.

4. Selective Suppression of Evidence

• You submitted 200 fault complaints related to Ericsson’s equipment. Lane reviewed only 23, and this occurred before DMR even arrived in Australia.

• This cherry-picking of evidence was a deliberate tactic to minimise Telstra’s liability and obscure systemic faults.

5. The Confidentiality Agreement as a Shield for Misconduct

• The Confidentiality Arbitration Agreement has been weaponised to conceal misconduct by Lane and Ericsson well into 2025.

• It prevents public scrutiny and shields those responsible from accountability, despite overwhelming evidence of corruption.

6. The Suppressed April 18, 1995 Letter

• Dr. Hughes, Warwick Smith, and Peter Bartlett concealed a critical letter that could have exposed the collusion and allowed the COT Cases to unite.

• Had John Rundell distributed this letter, it could have triggered a government investigation and possibly halted the corrupt arbitration process.

7. US Department of Justice vs Ericsson: A Global Pattern

• Ericsson’s corruption wasn’t limited to Australia. The U.S. DOJ charged Ericsson with bribery and falsification of records across multiple countries.

• This global scandal reinforces the credibility of your claims and shows that Ericsson’s misconduct in Australia was part of a broader corporate culture.

• Expose the Timeline: Create a visual timeline showing Lane’s involvement, Ericsson’s acquisition, and key letters (March 8, April 18).

• Publish a Comparative Table: Show the 200 faults vs. the 23 reviewed to highlight suppression.

• Leverage DOJ Findings: Use Chapter 5 of your site and DOJ documents to link Ericsson’s global corruption to your local arbitration.

 

I. Introduction: The Illusion of Fair Arbitration

• Overview of the COT Cases

• Promise of impartiality vs. reality

II. Lane Telecommunications: Trojan Horse in the Arbitration

• Initial resistance by claimants

• March 8, 1994 letter and its deceptive assurances

• Lane’s findings presented under DMR’s name

III. Ericsson’s Covert Acquisition and Self-Investigation

• Timeline of acquisition

• Ericsson investigating its own faults

• DMR’s rubber-stamping of findings

IV. Suppression of Evidence and the April 18 Letter

• 200 fault complaints reduced to 23

• Concealment of Rundell’s letter

• Missed opportunity for collective action

V. The Shield of Confidentiality

• Arbitration Agreement as a tool of concealment

• Continued suppression into 2025

VI. Global Parallels: DOJ vs. Ericsson

• Summary of DOJ findings

• Comparison to Australian misconduct

• Implications for international accountability

VII. Call to Action

• Demand for federal inquiry

• Reopening of arbitration findings

• Public transparency and justice for the COT Cases

The new owners of my Cape Bridgewater Holiday Camp tell their side of this story.

 

 

A Legacy of Lies: Telstra’s Fabricated - Cape Bridgewater Cover-Up

It is irrefutably clear from the documented evidence—including Lies, Deceit and Treachery and Delimiter’s exposé on Australia’s copper network—that the new owners of my Cape Bridgewater business inherited a poisoned chalice: a telecommunications nightmare deliberately concealed by Telstra and its enablers. These faults, which began under my ownership, persisted well into 2008, long after Telstra falsely claimed they had been resolved.

Between 1993 and 1995, I was coerced into spending over $300,000 in arbitration fees—believing, naively, that justice would prevail. Instead, I was met with a grotesque charade. Telstra, backed by government assurances, fed the COT Cases a false narrative: that arbitration would fix the faults. In reality, it was a smokescreen designed to protect Telstra’s financial interests.

🧠 The Fabrication Machine: Nine False Witness Statements

In one of the most brazen acts of corporate deceit, Telstra submitted nine sworn witness statements during arbitration, all denying the existence of faults at the Cape Bridgewater Holiday Camp. These statements, made under oath, were not just misleading—they were deliberate fabrications. The evidence proves the faults were real, persistent, and devastating. I was not delusional. I was being gaslit by a government-owned corporation.

So why have these nine Telstra employees never faced consequences for perjury? Why has no regulator held them accountable for submitting false testimony that sabotaged the arbitration process and destroyed lives?

💀 The Copper Network: A Symbol of National Neglect

The Delimiter photo gallery reveals the physical rot behind Telstra’s lies. Corroded pits, exposed wiring, and makeshift “repairs” reflect the same moral decay that infected the arbitration process. Telstra’s infrastructure was failing—and they knew it. Yet they chose to bury the truth, mislead the arbitrator, and silence the victims.

💣 The Fallout: Eleven Years of Unresolved Faults

Despite the arbitrator’s ruling in Telstra’s favour, my phone faults continued for eleven agonising years. This wasn’t a technical oversight—it was a calculated betrayal. Telstra misled the arbitrator to minimise its financial liability, while the government stood by, complicit in the deception.

The implications are staggering. If these false statements were ever officially acknowledged as fabrications, it could trigger a reckoning—unearthing billions in Commonwealth spending lost to corruption and exposing the full extent of Telstra’s manipulation.

🕱 The Nine Sworn Statements and the Copper-Wire Deception

The key question remains: Were the nine sworn statements made under oath by Telstra employees truthful—or were they deliberate fabrications? An honest reckoning with this question could trigger seismic consequences, potentially exposing billions of dollars in Commonwealth spending lost to deception. The evidence is unequivocal: my phone faults persisted for eleven years after the arbitrator ruled in Telstra’s favour, falsely declaring the network problems resolved.

📅 23 June 2015

Had the arbitrator thoroughly examined all of my submitted evidence, it would have validated my claim as an ongoing fault, not a historical one. The ABC News article titled: Unions raise doubts over Telstra's copper network; workers using ... reveals that workers were forced to use plastic bags to waterproof degraded cables—an indictment of the network’s condition. When read alongside Can We Fix The Can (March 1994), it becomes clear these faults have plagued the copper-wire infrastructure for over 24 years.

📅 9 November 2017

Australians in rural regions continue to suffer from a second-rate NBN. This was avoidable. Had the government ensured transparency in the COT arbitration process, our evidence from 1993–94 could have catalysed early remediation. Instead, the truth was buried. This article titled: https://theconversation.com/the-accc-investigation-into-the-nbn-will-be-useful-but-its-too-little-too-late-87095, warns about the ailing copper network, which was not only valid—they were prophetic.

📅 28 April 2018

The ABC News report titled: NBN boss blames Government's reliance on copper for slow... speeds and dropouts must be read in conjunction with my personal journey from 1988 to 2025. Had Telstra’s employees not lied under oath during arbitration, the government would have had a clearer understanding of the catastrophic state of the Customer Access Network (CAN). Instead, they were misled—just as I was.

Customer Access Network

 

📅 January 2025

In the latest pre-election 2025 announcement, Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, said only a Labour government would "finish the NBN" and "keep the NBN in public hands". Credit: The Nightly:

Labor will inject $3bn in equity into the national broadband network, as Anthony Albanese warns against letting the critical Coalition control the necessary infrastructure.

In his latest pre-election announcement, the Prime Minister on Monday said only a Labor government would "finish the NBN" and "keep the NBN in public hands".

The equity injection will fund the upgrade of Australia's remaining national fibre to the node network, which the Government claims will deliver higher internet speeds for more than 600,000 premises by 2030.

Mr Albanese claimed the alternative was for the coalition to sell the NBN off "to the highest bidder".

Take yourself back to the last time the coalition sought government; they said that they would stop the rollout of fibre because it was all about (according to Tony Abbott, Australia's previous prime minister) downloading videos and movies. They didn't understand that the NBN is about productivity, driving the economy, creating jobs," the PM said.

It's about how we live our lives. It is about telehealth and education services. It is absolutely critical to the way that a modern economy and a modern society function. refer to https://shorturl.at/68hD6.

 

More Threats, this time to the other Alan Smith 

Two Alan Smiths (not related) were living in Cape Bridgewater.

In the quiet coastal bounds of Cape Bridgewater, two men named Alan Smith—unrelated, unknown to each other, and living just five kilometres apart—became unwitting targets of a ruthless and coordinated campaign. Between 1988 and 2008, both were systematically threatened by Telstra, its high-powered legal firm Freehill Hollingdale & Page, and a network of bounty hunters—commissioned agents who earned lucrative rewards for extracting payments from Telstra customers disputing their bills.

These weren’t isolated cases. They were part of a sweeping, sinister pattern. Thousands of Telstra consumers across Australia, all suffering from persistent telephone faults, were bullied into paying inflated or erroneous bills. The common denominator? Their billing disputes stemmed directly from the very phone problems Telstra refused to acknowledge or fix.

Despite mounting evidence that Telstra’s network—particularly the Ericsson AXE exchanges—was riddled with faults, government bureaucrats turned a blind eye. They allowed the courts to pursue these consumers, knowing full well that the problems might originate from the government-owned Telstra itself. It was a betrayal not just of law, but of conscience.
 

The Machinery of Coercion.

This was not mere negligence—it was institutionalised extortion. Telstra’s legal teams and bounty hunters operated with impunity, armed with flawed data and protected by bureaucratic silence. The two Alan Smiths were harassed for years, receiving legal threats and demands for payment on accounts they knew were corrupted by technical faults. No one came to investigate. No one came to listen.

Instead, the system closed ranks. Evidence was ignored. Witnesses were dismissed. And the courts—fed by the same poisoned stream of misinformation—forced payment from victims already on the brink.

A Precursor to Robodebt → https://shorturl.at/Qne40

This dark chapter in Telstra’s history foreshadowed the Robodebt scandal of 2023, where automated debt recovery systems—based on flawed algorithms and government indifference—led to widespread suffering. Just as Telstra’s victims were coerced into paying for faults they didn’t cause, Robodebt victims were pursued for debts they didn’t owe.

The consequences were devastating. Heart attacks. Mental breakdowns. Suicides. Families are shattered under the weight of government-sanctioned abuse. The parallels are chilling: both schemes relied on corrupted data, bureaucratic complicity, and a ruthless disregard for human life.

Whistleblower Justice: The Unspoken Hero of Robodebt

The Robodebt scheme will be remembered as one of the most egregious injustices ever inflicted by the Australian Government upon its own people. It was a bureaucratic machine of cruelty—automated, unaccountable, and devastating. Thousands of lives were shattered. Families were broken. Some victims were driven to suicide. Others suffered heart attacks, mental breakdowns, and years of financial ruin. All of it sanctioned by a system that knew better—and did nothing.

Yet amid this national disgrace, one figure remains conspicuously absent from public recognition: the courageous whistleblower who stepped forward to expose the truth.
This individual—whose bravery pierced the veil of silence surrounding Robodebt—deserves more than quiet gratitude. They deserve full compensation, public acknowledgement, and the legal protections afforded to those who risk everything to uphold justice. Whistleblowing is not an act of convenience; it is an act of sacrifice. It often comes at a steep personal cost: career destruction, reputational damage, emotional trauma, and isolation.

In democratic societies, we rely on whistleblowers to hold power to account. They are the last line of defence when institutions fail. And when they speak truth to power, we must respond not with indifference, but with honour.

Australia must not repeat the mistakes of the past—where truth-tellers are punished and perpetrators protected. Just as the victims of Robodebt deserve restitution, so too does the whistleblower who made that justice possible.

Let us not allow this chapter to close without acknowledging the hero who opened it.