Government contractors caught up in fraud

Almost two dozen government contractors have been identified as having been caught in the Plutus Payroll scandal.

A search of federal government department records for links to an alleged $165 million tax fraud has uncovered at least 23 contractors who've been ripped off.

The number, revealed in a Senate estimates answer tabled in parliament, is more than double those identified in May to have been caught up in the scandal.

Plutus Payroll is the company at the centre of one of Australia's biggest suspected white-collar crimes.

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet has revealed 23 contractors have used Plutus Payroll's services, engaged through six labour hire companies.

All government departments and agencies have been asked to scour their files for any links to the fraud.

Ten people have so far been charged in relation to the alleged fraud, including Adam and Laura Cranston, the children of Australian Taxation Office deputy commissioner Michael Cranston.

Voluntary administrators Veritas Advisory were appointed last month.


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Source: AAP



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