Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman
⚖️ Open Letter: Arbitration in Australia—A System Compromised by Deception and Betrayal
By Alan Smith, Founder of AbsentJustice.com
🧭 Introduction: A Call to Conscience
This letter is not written in anger, but in resolve. I speak for myself and for the 21 fellow Casualties of Telstra (COT) claimants whose lives were upended by a corrupted arbitration process. We were promised justice. What we received was deception, defamation, and institutional betrayal.
🔍 The Anatomy of a Cover-Up
1. Defamation as a Weapon
- A fabricated allegation claimed I verbally harassed the wife of Dr. Gordon Hughes AO, the appointed arbitrator.
- Originated from John Pinnock (Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman), sent to Laurie James (President, Institute of Arbitrators Australia).
- Designed to discredit me and derail scrutiny of the arbitration process.
- I categorically deny this claim. (See Chapter 4 – The Seventh Damning Letter)
2. Dr. Hughes’s Complicit Silence
- Knew the allegation was false.
- Refused to speak out, allowing the lie to damage my reputation and the arbitration’s legitimacy.
3. Laurie James’s Dismissal of My Appeals
- Ignored my requests for investigation.
- Reinforced a culture of complicity and protected unethical conduct.
🧾 Fabrications and Falsehoods
4. John Rundell’s False Letter (Feb 1996)
- Claimed Victoria Police intended to interview me for property damage.
- Used to obstruct Laurie James from investigating my legitimate claims. (See )
5. Treacherous Admission
- Rundell admitted my accountant, Derek Ryan, was correct: his financial report was incomplete.
- This breach should have invalidated the arbitration findings.
6. Dr. Hughes Weaponised Rundell’s Letter
- Used Rundell’s falsehood in his own communication to Laurie James.
- Demonstrates coordinated suppression of truth.
🚨 Institutional Betrayal
7. Victoria Police Refuted Rundell’s Claims
- Barrister Neil Jepson confirmed Brighton CIB’s involvement was misrepresented.
- Pinnock failed to hold Rundell accountable.
8. Pinnock’s Failure to Hold Hughes Accountable
- Allowed Hughes to use misleading documents to influence arbitration outcomes.
9. Corporate Complicity via KPMG
- Rundell was a partner at KPMG during this misconduct.
- Silence from corporate peers adds another layer of betrayal.
🛑 Suppression of Justice
10. Blocked Investigations into COT Claims
- Actions of Hughes, Rundell, and Pinnock obstructed scrutiny of my case and those of fellow claimants.
- Laurie James was close to exposing the corruption—fabrications stopped him. (See Chapter 2 – Inaccurate and Incomplete)
11. Concealed Legal Rights (March 1994)
- One month before signing arbitration agreements, we were stripped of the right to sue consultants for negligence.
- This was deliberately hidden. (See Chapter 5 – Fraudulent Conduct)
12. IAMA’s Silence After Reviewing Evidence (2009)
- Submitted 23 documents across four emails.
- Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia declined to make findings and refused to return the documents. (See The Eleventh Remedy Pursued)
📣 A Rallying Cry for Justice
I speak not out of vengeance, but for truth, accountability, and dignity. I represent not only myself, but 21 fellow COT claimants and countless Australians harmed by Telstra’s negligence. Justice delayed is justice denied—but silence in the face of injustice is the ultimate betrayal of public trust.
🌍 Public Interest and Ongoing Influence
- Dr. Hughes now serves as Principal Legal Representative at a central international legal facility in Melbourne.
- John Rundell operates arbitration centres in Melbourne and Hong Kong.
- Their refusal to address these allegations casts doubt on the transparency and integrity of arbitration itself.
✊ I Refuse to Be Silenced
This letter is a record. A warning. A demand. The truth will not be buried beneath bureaucracy or reputation. The Australian public deserves transparency. The victims of Telstra’s misconduct deserve justice.
Alan Smith
Founder, AbsentJustice.com
Advocate for truth, justice, and reform in Australian arbitration
Would you like help drafting a press release or email pitch to accompany this letter for media outreach? I can also help format this for your website—adding anchor links, chapter references, or even a downloadable version if needed.
Chapter 1- Prior to Arbitration
Government - Corruption. Learn about horrendous crimes and unscrupulous criminals, corrupt politicians and the lawyers who control the legal profession in Australia. Shameful, hideous, and treacherous are just a few words that describe these lawbreakers.
Chapter 2 Corruption in the making
Government - Corruption. Learn about horrendous crimes and unscrupulous criminals, corrupt politicians and the lawyers who control the legal profession in Australia. Shameful, hideous, and treacherous.<
Chapter 4 Deception in the public service
Corruption in government, including non-government self-regulators, undermines the credibility of that government. It erodes the trust of its citizens.
Chapter 5 Fraudulent Conduct
Bribery and corruption in the seat of arbitration in Australia during the COT Cases arbitrations cut deep into the rule of law.
Chapter 6 Intimidation Threats
Corruption in government, including non-government self-regulators, undermines the credibility of that government. It erodes the trust of its citizens. Corruption of public officials.
Chapter 7 TIO Lies Fraud Deception
Tampering with technical evidence, falsification of two similar technical reports, criminal conspiracies to hide from the citizens of Australia the true extent of Telstra's poor telecommunications network
Julian Assange - Hacking TIO Chapter 3
Corruption in government, including non-government self-regulators, undermines the credibility of that government. It erodes the trust of its citizens.
