The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) says it has hit a major milestone by receiving over 300,000 tip-offs from the community about dodgy tax avoiders since launching its public whistleblower service in 2019.

In the last financial year alone, the ATO received almost 50,000 tip-offs from Australians about possible tax evaders.

Most of the suspicious behaviour related to the so-called "shadow economy", where people demand cash for work or incorrectly claim business expenses, the ATO said. 

The ATO estimates that billions of dollars are siphoned off through these dodgy practices, redirecting funds which could be going towards essential services like health, education, and infrastructure.

ATO Assistant Commissioner Tony Goding said businesses that dodge their tax and super obligations are simply stealing from fellow Australians.

"When someone cheats the system, they're not just breaking the law, they're freeloading on honest businesses and the rest of the community," Goding said. 

"Paying tax is not optional.

'Sooner or later, and probably sooner, if you're operating in the shadow economy, the ATO will discover this… as a result of a tip-off from one of your workers, customers or competitors."

Industries with the most tip-offs

The top three industries seeing a surge in tip-offs this year are building and construction, cafés and restaurants, and hairdressing and beauty services.

Goding noted that the sources of these reports are often very close to the businesses themselves. 

"With tip-offs often coming from customers, employees, other businesses, and even family and friends, the community is clearly fed up with dodgy behaviours and is stepping up to help us make things fairer," he said. 

Australians have been reporting businesses and individuals who didn't declare their income, demanded or paid for work in cash to avoid tax, or failed to report all sales.

Where have the most tip-offs come from?

Community vigilance is widespread across the country, but some areas are more active than others. 

In 2024–25, NSW residents led the charge, recording 15,907 tip-offs to the ATO, followed closely by Victorians with 11,890 and Queenslanders with 10,630.

While Sydney and Melbourne topped the charts for total tip-offs, suspicious activity is not confined to the major capital cities. 

The top five regional areas for tip-offs this year included a strong presence from Queensland: Robina; the Sunshine Coast Hinterland; Townsville; and Toowoomba.

Newcastle in NSW topped the regional list.

"From coastal towns to inland hubs, communities are calling out suspicious behaviour and helping the ATO crack down on the shadow economy," Goding said. 

The tip-offs the ATO receives have proved to be remarkably accurate, with 85 per cent of those analysed in the last financial year found to be suitable for further investigation.

Spotting the cheaters

Australians were becoming more savvy about what constitutes a red flag, the ATO said.

It's not just "cash only" signs that should raise eyebrows, but broader lifestyle and operational anomalies. 

Suspicions being flagged could include a luxury car parked outside a business that claims to be struggling, a busy café that never seems to report profits or employees, or workers being paid entirely in cash without payslips or superannuation entitlements.

"People evading their tax and super obligations are directly harming honest businesses and putting an increased burden on other Australians. There really is no excuse," Goding said. 

"And when you're caught, you don't just have to cough up the tax.

"You'll also face significant penalties plus interest on unpaid taxes and possibly even criminal sanctions."

Ministry staff have been contacted by about 30 schools and 30 early childhood services.

Tākuta Ferris says his expulsion from Te Pāti Māori was a ‘joke’ and flawed.

The crash happened just after midday in Culverden, with a truck hitting a tree.

The fire at Te Pā Eketū burned for 174 days as part of the whenua movement.

Exclusive: Restaurant bosses say they aren't surprised Menulog didn't survive after the service ceased operations in Australia, as more owners decide to ditch food delivery apps altogether.

Australian-founded but now Dutch-owned Menulog will wrap up business by November 26, ending a two-decade-long market share in the booming delivery app industry.

While UberEats continues to have a chokehold on the local restaurants – with 4.18 million Australian users in 2024 – plenty of businesses have now turned their backs on the apps.

READ MORE: 'Madness': Mining boss issues blistering message after closure

Do you have a story? Contact reporter April Glover at Google Play.

China's foreign ministry has rebuffed claims it has hackers working to disrupt Australia's critical infrastructure.

It comes after comments from Australia's top spy chief Mike Burgess, who yesterday identified two hacking groups which he said were capable of tapping into Australia's critical communications network and having a "disruptive [and] destructive" impact on the country.

He did not explicitly name the Chinese government, but said "one nation state — no prizes for guessing which one — [is] conducting multiple attempts to scan and penetrate critical infrastructure in Australia and other Five Eyes countries."

READ MORE: 'Clown show': PM slams Liberal Party as 'divided rabble'

However, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry strongly denied Burgess' claims, asking for a full retraction and saying this was not the first time Burgess had attacked China.

"In recent months, the Australian official you mentioned has repeatedly hurled attacks at China, spread disinformation and deliberately sowed division and confrontation," Guo Jiakun told a journalist at a press conference in Beijing today.

"It's hoped that the Australian official can stop making irresponsible statements."

The two groups Burgess was referring to are called Volt Typhoon and Salt Typhoon, and Asio's Director-General said espionage breaches cause a $12.5 billion hit to the economy per year.

READ MORE: Trump 'spent hours' with victim, Epstein claimed

"These groups are hackers working for Chinese government intelligence and their military," he said at an ASIC conference in Melbourne on Wednesday.

"Both groups were involved in the theft of sensitive information, but the real danger was the threat of sabotage – disruption to critical infrastructure."

Jiakun said China had lodged a protest with Australia, and hinted future outbursts of this nature could hinder the relationship between the two countries, which have been at loggerheads over trade and defence.

"China firmly opposes it and has protested with Australia," he said.

"[Burgess should] do more things conducive to the healthy development of China-Australia relations."

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

A white humpback that created a buzz as Australia's second albino whale now has some concerned over its health and unusual migration pattern.

The famed Migaloo lost his title as the one and only true albino whale in Australia's east coast population when a white juvenile spotted off the NSW South Coast last week was confirmed to be albino.

But while humpback whales migrate thousands of kilometres south to Antarctica to feed, the albino, fondly named "Siale", is travelling north.

READ MORE: Missed out on seeing the aurora australis? You get one last chance tonight

Her 10-metre-long body also appears thin. 

Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans (ORRCA) spokesperson Pip Jacobs confirmed Siale had lost body condition.

"Based on the current information and footage we have of Siale, we can't draw any conclusions about her health," she said.

"It's unusual to see a humpback whale travelling north at this time of year.

"We're hopeful Siale will soon turn south as well, where she can feed and rebuild her strength and condition ahead of next year's migration."

Jacobs urged anyone who spots her to share footage, which can help experts get a better understanding of her health and movements. 

Humpback whales will return to warmer waters on the East Coast between April to November.

ORRCA was able to confirm Siale's albinism late last week due to her red eyes and total lack of pigmentation.

READ MORE: Watchdog flags safety concerns for children over pesticide sprayed on berries

"True albinism in humpback whales is extraordinarily rare, occurring in only about one in 40,000 births," the organisation said.

"The only other confirmed albino humpback on the Australian east coast is Migaloo, making this identification a truly historic moment."

Migaloo, an albino adult male first spotted in Byron Bay in 1991, has not been seen since the last sighting off Port Macquarie in June 2020.

ORRCA, with the help of Whale Discoveries, was able to identify Siale as a female calf first documented in Tonga.

Experts used previous and current footage to analyse her tail, which is unique to each whale, similar to a human fingerprint. 

Due to special legislation, white whales have an exclusion zone of at least 500m for swimmers, surfers and vessels and 100m for drones. 

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Australia's pesticide regulator has flagged fresh health concerns for young children over a chemical sprayed on berries.

With their high nutritional content, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries have become a favourite for families as part of healthier diets.

But the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) says existing regulations over using dimethoate – an insecticide widely used to stop berries being spoiled by fruit fly – need strengthening to keep people safe.

READ MORE: Storms to hammer Australia from top of NT to bottom of SA

In a decision announced this week, the national watchdog said children aged between two and six years old who ate berries treated with dimethoate within seven days or less of harvest risked exposure of the chemical beyond safe limits.

The APVMA ruled fruit growers must now wait at least 14 days after applying the pesticide before harvesting to give it more time to degrade.

It said existing label directions needed altering to ensure dimethoate's use on berries did not present "an undue hazard to people".

Until now, growers had to wait one day after spraying blueberries and seven days following the treatment of raspberries and blackberries.

Earlier this year, the APVMA began reviewing potential health hazards from dimethoate amid the growing popularity of berries.

Data from Food Standards Australia and New Zealand showed Australians' consumption of blueberries, blackberries and raspberries has jumped since the last review of the pesticide in 2017.

Health concerns over dimethoate resulted in European Union countries banning the chemical in 2019.

Industry body Berries Australia told 9news.com.au that figures it collected over the past five years showed dimethoate usage had fallen.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Plenty of Australians have committed a crime without even realising, and it could cost more than $1200 in fines.

The crime in question is tucking a seatbelt under your arm in a moving car.

It's illegal in all Australian states and territories, attracting hefty fines and demerit point penalties.

READ MORE: NSW e-bike crackdown looms with fines up to $825k for breaching new safety requirements

And with double demerits on the horizon as the holiday season approaches, the penalties will be even more severe.

Can you be fined for wearing a seatbelt under your arm?

Yes.

It is illegal to wear a seatbelt under your arm in all Australian states and territories, regardless of whether you're the passenger or the driver.

This is because wearing a seatbelt under your arm is considered incorrect seatbelt use.

"Motorists are reminded the lap portion of a seatbelt should lie low, flat and firm over your hips and the sash should be across your chest and mid shoulder – never under the arm," a Transport for NSW spokesperson told 9news.com.au.

"Too often we are seeing people wearing the seatbelt under their arm, which means an increased risk of death or injury in the event of a crash."

Wearing a twisted or slack seatbelt is also considered incorrect seatbelt use and may attract penalties.

Fines vary by state and territory, with penalties for an individual not wearing a seatbelt correctly in one state exceeding $1200.

Who gets a fine if the passenger is not wearing a seatbelt?

Both drivers and passengers may be fined if the passenger is not wearing a seatbelt.

Drivers will face fines and demerit points if they're caught with a passenger of any age not wearing a seatbelt correctly.

Only passengers aged 16 and above will face fines if they're caught without a seatbelt.

In some states, including NSW and Tasmania, a passenger caught without an appropriately fastened seatbelt can only be fined by a police officer.

Only the driver will receive an infringement notice if the passenger is caught by a seatbelt detection camera.

READ MORE: Cancelling a gym membership? These are your consumer rights in Australia

How do seatbelt detection cameras work?

Seatbelt detection cameras operate alongside mobile phone detection cameras to photograph and identify drivers breaking the law.

Fixed and mobile seatbelt detection cameras snap images of all cars as they pass, including the registration and the front seat of the car.

The images are then reviewed by artificial intelligence (AI) software that automatically detects potential seatbelt offences.

Trained humans then verify that an offence has actually occurred before issuing an infringement notice.

Images that don't show any potential seatbelt offences are deleted.

Seatbelt detection cameras are currently in use in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, the ACT, WA, and Tasmania.

Are there exemptions for not wearing a seatbelt?

Yes – but only in very rare circumstances.

Drivers with a full licence don't need to wear a seatbelt when reversing.

Passengers don't have to wear a seatbelt if they're giving or receiving urgent and necessary medical treatment.

Drivers and passengers in garbage or delivery vehicles who have to exit regularly also don't need to wear seatbelts, provided the vehicle is travelling under 25km/h.

Some Australians may also be issued a seatbelt exemption medical certificate by a doctor for a medical condition or disability.

These certificates are valid for limited time periods and must be carried whenever in a vehicle.

READ MORE: Australia Post reveals deadline for mailing Christmas parcels

Can you dispute a seatbelt fine in Australia?

Yes.

If you disagree with a fine, you can contact the relevant state or territory revenue office to request a review.

Eligibility criteria and review requirements vary by state and territory.

Seatbelt fines and penalties by state and territory

NSW

Drivers who are caught not wearing a seatbelt correctly, or whose passengers aren't wearing a seatbelt correctly, may cop three demerit points and a $423 fine.

The penalty for driving with two unrestrained passengers is $855 and six demerit points.

It increases to $1361 and six demerits for three unrestrained passengers, or $1784 and six demerits for four unrestrained passengers.

Queensland

Penalties for all seatbelt-related offences in Queensland are four demerit points and a $1251 fine.

This includes drivers and passengers caught wearing a seatbelt incorrectly, e.g. under the arm.

Victoria

Drivers caught not wearing a seatbelt correctly by seatbelt detection cameras in Victoria face a $407 fine and three demerit points.

Drivers can face maximum penalties of up to 10 penalty units for seatbelt-related offences, which amounts to $2035.10 based on the current penalty unit value of $203.51.

READ MORE: Bringing a converted e-bike onto a train or metro in NSW could soon cost you up to $1100

ACT

Seatbelt detection cameras are now in operation in the ACT and maximum penalties of up to 20 penalty units apply to those caught breaking the law.

Based on the current penalty unit value of $160 for individuals, the maximum fine for seatbelt-related offences is $3200.

SA

Drivers caught not wearing a seatbelt correctly or with a passenger who is not wearing a seatbelt correctly in SA face a $448 fine and three demerit points.

If more than one passenger is not wearing a seatbelt correctly, the penalty increases to $530 and five demerit points.

WA

Penalties for not wearing a seatbelt correctly in WA start at $550 for passengers aged 16 or over who are caught unrestrained.

Unrestrained drivers can cop a $550 fine and four demerit points.

That fine for unrestrained drivers increases if any passengers are unrestrained:

• one unrestrained passenger = $600 fine
• two unrestrained passengers = $700 fine
• three unrestrained passengers = $800 fine
• four unrestrained passengers = $900 fine

Fines and four demerit points still apply to drivers who are caught with unrestrained passengers, even if the driver is wearing a seatbelt.

The fine for restrained drivers with unrestrained passengers are:

• one unrestrained passenger = $550 fine
• two unrestrained passengers = $600 fine
• three unrestrained passengers = $700 fine
• four unrestrained passengers = $800 fine

READ MORE: How to maximise public holidays and make the most of your annual leave in 2025

NT

In the NT, drivers caught not wearing a seatbelt properly or failing to ensure a child is appropriately restrained face a $500 fine and three demerit points.

Passengers aged 16 or over can also cop a $500 for not wearing a seatbelt.

Tasmania

Drivers caught without appropriately fastened seatbelts face a $410 fine and three demerit points in Tasmania.

The penalty is the same for drivers caught with passengers over the age of 16 not wearing their seatbelts correctly.

The fine increases to $461.25 if the passenger is under 16.

If a passenger is caught not wearing a seatbelt properly by a police officer, they and the driver will be issued an infringement notice.

If they are caught by a mobile phone and seatbelt detection camera, only the driver will be penalised.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.