The daughter of a high-ranking ATO officer connected to an unprecedented payroll fraud is heavily pregnant, without a "cent to rub together", a court has heard.
Lauren Cranston, 24, is one of several people facing charges over the alleged Plutus Payroll tax scam, which authorities say netted at least $130 million.
A civil directions hearing linked to the criminal case at the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday heard the daughter of the Australian Tax Office's deputy commissioner Michael Cranston was eight months pregnant and broke.
"This young woman has no money. She doesn't have a cent to rub together," defence lawyer Greg Walsh, who said he would continue to help Ms Cranston in her legal fight, told the court.
"She's in an ever difficult and vulnerable position."
Her father is due in court next week to face criminal allegations he abused his position by passing on information to his son.
Ms Cranston and her brother, Adam Cranston, are among 65 defendants in the civil case brought by the commissioner of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), which relates to the restraining of assets.
Adam Cranston was also in court on Thursday.
The Supreme Court matter heard most of the defendants have or plan to apply to delay their examinations by the AFP, which were due to begin next week.
Justice Elizabeth Fullerton said she would not allow the difficult case to "limp along".
"There is a very considerable public interest ... in ensuring the matter is ... progressed," she said.
The AFP had first alleged the fraud was worth $165 million but a Senate hearing later heard the ATO had revised the figure to about $130 million.
Tax commissioner Chris Jordan told last month's hearing Michael Cranston was not suspected of being directly involved with the syndicate that allegedly attempted to defraud the Commonwealth.
Mr Cranston has been suspended without pay.
When charges were laid in mid-May, AFP deputy commissioner Leanne Close described the scale of the alleged fraud as "unprecedented".
Share
