Man accused of using insider information to bet on Australian of the Year winners faces court
A Sydney man accused of using insider information obtained from a Commonwealth employee to secretly bet on Australian of the Year winners, has faced court for the first time.
A Sydney man has faced court for the first time over allegedly using insider information to place bets on the outcome of the Australian of the Year awards.
The 47-year-old Collaroy man Christopher John Shannon was represented by his lawyer in court on Tuesday, charged with allegedly using information obtained from a commonwealth employee to improperly place bets on the outcome of five Australian of the Year awards.
The charges relate to the awards held from 2017-21.
His matter was adjourned to Manly Local Court later this month, and the court heard he may seek to have the matter dealt with on mental health grounds.
News Corp Australia revealed in January 2021 that concerns had been raised about the integrity of the betting process surrounding the awards after the eventual winner, then relatively unknown Tasmanian sexual abuse survivor and advocate Grace Tame, went from outsider to favourite after an unusual betting plunge.
The concerns, under investigation for the past three years, led to a ban on betting on the prestigious awards.
A little more than a week away from this year’s awards, the Australian Federal Police issued a statement revealing the man had been charged as part of Operation Maridun, which began in February 2021 after the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission provided a report to the AFP about betting irregularities on the 2021 Australian of the Year awards.
Mr Shannon was been charged with six counts of using inside information for betting purposes contrary to section 193Q of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), which carries a maximum penalty of two years’ jail.
Court documents reveal that around late December to January each year, Mr Shannon is alleged to have come into “possession” of the “inside information”.
Court documents reveal that around late December to January each year, Mr Shannon is alleged to have come into “possession” of the “inside information”.
He is accused of then using it to bet on the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Australian of the Year winners, and the 2021 Young Australian of the Year winner and Australian of the Year.
He is accused of then using it to bet on the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Australian of the Year winners, and the 2021 Young Australian of the Year winner and Australian of the Year.
The AFP will allege the man received $7542 from $1767 worth of bets. AFP Commander Stephen Nutt said detecting and disrupting major financial crime based on inside information was a key priority of the AFP and its partner agencies.
“Unlawful use of inside information undermines the integrity of events betting and disadvantages those who play by the rules,” Commander Nutt said.
“The misuse of official or privileged information also erodes public trust in our institutions.”
Two days after Australia Day in 2021, News Corp revealed the National Australia Day Council had made a referral to the ACIC about betting irregularities, which had sparked concerns the winner’s name had been leaked.
Around 180 people were found to have known the name of the winner at the time of the betting plunge, which occurred in December – after the winner had been decided, but with the details kept confidential.
Those in the know included National Australia Day Council staff, board members and people involved in the production of the awards ceremony, held on Australia Day Eve. All those involved are required to sign a nondisclosure agreement, which includes a no-betting clause.
Ms Tame did not know she was the winner.
The allegation that irregular betting had been occurring for five years undetected will be an embarrassment to the organisers, who acted only after the plunge on Ms Tame affected betting markets and raised eyebrows across Canberra.
Ms Tame, a fierce advocate for sexual abuse survivors, did not have a high profile outside her home state of Tasmania at the time of the betting plunge. Sportsbet had opened the market for her at $6, but by December 30, she was the favourite at $1.30.
The early favourites had been former chief medical officer Brendan Murphy, a household name during the Covid-19 pandemic, and former NSW fire commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.
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