Jury hears phone taps in Michael Cranston trial

Former deputy tax commissioner Michael Cranston told his son “I shouldn’t have rang” another high-ranking tax official, in phone recordings played to a jury.

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Former deputy tax commissioner Michael Cranston told his son “I shouldn’t have rang” another high-ranking tax official, in phone recordings played to a jury.

In another call, Adam Cranston asked his father about another senior tax officer: “He’s pretty discreet though isn’t he? … he’s pretty trustworthy and stuff?”.

The jury today heard 21 calls recorded by the Australian Federal Police, largely between Mr Cranston and his son, at Mr Cranston’s District Court trial in which he has pleaded not guilty to two counts of using his position to benefit Adam.

“I rang Tony yesterday, I shouldn’t have rang him at all,” Mr Cranston told Adam in one call.

Michael Cranston arrives at the Downing Centre District Court. Picture John Grainger

It was May 2017 and the ATO was freezing the accounts of Plutus Payroll, a company linked to Adam, who called his father urgently seeking a meeting with an ATO representative to try have the order released.

“ATO garnished the accounts, we got 2000 contractors, we can’t pay their wages,” Adam told his father.

“No one from the ATO will speak to us … bit unprofessional.”

Cranston called his subordinate, assistant commissioner Tony Poulakis, telling him “there’s a lot of urgency” because unpaid workers were going to the media which could reflect badly on the ATO.

Former deputy tax commissioner Michael Cranston’s phone taps were played in court. Picture John Grainger

“This lawyer bloke’s rang me about something connected to me son … They’ve hit them with this garnishee,” he told Mr Poulakis on the phone.

Mr Poulakis said “send me that (phone) number and I’ll see what I can do”.

Crown prosecutor Peter Neil SC earlier told the jury Cranston asked another assistant commissioner Scott Burrows for information on a tax audit being done into Adam’s business associate Simon Anquetil.

“I’ve got Scott onto it mate,” Cranston told his son in one call.

Adam asked “he’s pretty discreet though isn’t he? … He’s pretty trustworthy and stuff? Is he high up?”.

His father responded “yeah, he reports directly to me”.

Mr Cranston later told his son the information on Mr Anquetil was restricted.

“It has to be in the organised crime area mate because it’s got that secret number on it,” Mr Cranston told him.

The trial continues in Downing Centre District Court.