Cancer conwoman Belle Gibson’s refusal to pay her years-old fines exposes her punishment as a slap on the wrist and a failure of the justice system, says a former friend turned whistleblower.
Gibson was ordered in 2017 to pay a $410,000 fine for duping Australians – and more than seven years later the consumer watchdog is still trying to get her to hand over money.
Belle Gibson, pictured outside the Federal Court in Melbourne in 2019.Credit: Darrian Traynor
“Consumer Affairs Victoria is continuing to pursue Annabelle Natalie Gibson (also known as Belle Gibson) in order to recover her outstanding debt,” a Consumer Affairs Victoria spokesperson said.
“The Federal Court of Australia ordered Ms Gibson to pay $410,000 after she was found to engage in unconscionable conduct, in contravention of the Australian Consumer Law.”
Gibson’s former friend, Chanelle McAuliffe, said it was “really disappointing” that authorities were still chasing the conwoman for money.
The court initially gave Gibson two weeks to pay the penalty.
Belle Gibson’s former friend Chanelle McAuliffe reported the conwoman to police in 2014 over suspicions she was lying about her diagnosis.
“It’s a shame because she hasn’t taken any accountability or offered any closure to the victims and the charities that she ripped off,” McAuliffe told this masthead.
McAuliffe reported Gibson to police in 2014 over suspicions she was lying about her cancer diagnosis.
Gibson accumulated wealth of $420,000 from her cookbook and app The Whole Pantry, based on the false claim that she had been diagnosed with brain cancer and had been cured through alternative therapies and nutrition.
It was later revealed she never had cancer and had also lied about her intention to donate a large chunk of her earnings to charity.
The scandal – laid bare in articles and a book written by journalists from this masthead – is now the subject of a new Netflix series, Apple Cider Vinegar.
The penalty included $150,000 for failing to donate money to the family of Joshua Schwarz, a boy with an inoperable brain tumour.
Gibson’s $410,000 fine grew to more than half a million dollars with costs and interest in 2020. A court-ordered sheriff raided her home in Northcote, in Melbourne’s inner-north, for a second time in 2021 in an attempt to recover the fine.
McAuliffe said Gibson, who claimed in court she was penniless and unable to pay the fine, has earned some income over the years.
“She could, on her own accord, start paying back that fine with whatever capacity she has,” she said.
McAuliffe said the saddest thing was that the Schwarz family had never received any money from Gibson.
“It’s really tragic that the family won’t be compensated for their suffering,” she said.
“She should be [paying the fine] just because it’s the right thing to do, not for anyone’s forgiveness, not for anything that she could get out of it.
“She caused harm to a lot of people, and she still has an opportunity to make things right.”
McAuliffe said the inability of authorities to recoup the money was an example of how broken the justice system could be.
“In this case, it’s basically just a slap on the wrist – and what example does that set for society? And what example does that set for her?” she said.
“She’s a chameleon. She keeps repeating patterns of misleading people and faking various illnesses, she’s been doing it most of her life.
“It could set an example that she can keep getting away with it.”
Health minister Mary-Anne Thomas said she did not know enough about the matter to comment.
Gibson could not be contacted for comment.
Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here.