Our Journalists

Ben ButlerNational Investigations Editor

Ben Butler has investigated everything from bikie gangs to multibillion dollar international frauds, with a particular focus on the intersection between the corporate and criminal worlds. He has previously worked for mastheads including The Age, The Australian and The Guardian.

Ben Butler

Latest

Companies

$3.7b honeypot: Aussie fury over insurance gouging

Regulators have ordered Australia’s insurance industry to clean up its act amid premium hikes and soaring complaints. Have your say.

National

$750K rip-off: Accused sticky tape bandit’s assets frozen

Comedian and financial adviser David Valvo, whose celebrity impressions include Donald Trump, has been accused of ripping off dozens of clients’ signatures.

National

*2022 Pictures of the Year Australia* - LISMORE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 31: An aerial drone view of houses surrounded by floodwater on March 31, 2022 in Lismore, Australia. Evacuation orders have been issued for towns across the NSW Northern Rivers region, with flash flooding expected as heavy rainfall continues. It is the second major flood event for the region this month. (Photo by Dan Peled/Getty Images)

Five areas Aussie insurers need to fix now

Insurance companies have been put on notice over their handling of claims from Aussies hit by natural disasters. See which areas need urgent improvement.

Special feature

Dark side of Monaco’s glamorous reality exposed by Aussie’s arrest

With eye-wateringly expensive real estate, luxury yachts and its fabled casino, the tiny territory is home to countless billionaires. It also has a massive money laundering issue.

Special feature

Jailed entrepreneur’s mum blasts French police

Damien Carew’s Melbourne-based mother has blasted French authorities for treating him “like dirt” as he languishes behind bars awaiting trial for the attempted murder of his wife.

Special feature

Downfall of Aussie-born high flyer revealed

The secret life of Australian entrepreneur turned inmate Damien Carew has been exposed as he sits in a French jail cell, accused of money laundering and attempting to murder his Russian wife.

Special feature

How an act of kindness changed Damien Carew’s life forever

He had a flashy real estate career and lived a seemingly picture perfect life in the millionaire’s playground on the French Riviera – but his luxury lifestyle quickly unravelled one night in Paris.

Police & Courts