THE “AUSTRALIAN VACCINATION NETWORK”

BREAKS THE LAW AND GETS FINED (OR NOT)

In my long (and so far unrewarded) career of examining the AVN, I have come across many
instances of the AVN and its sometime President, Treasurer and Public Officer Ms Meryl
Dorey flouting the law. In fact, no matter what activity of the AVN’s that I examine, I find
breaches. But here’s the odd thing, I have never found one instance of the regulatory
authorities imposing the fines and other penalties that legislation calls for.

So here’s a list of some of the breaches and the penalties that they attract. It is by no means
complete, as I have not looked into everything that the AVN does. If you know of something
I have missed, please tell me. It took a few minutes to assemble.

BREACHES: Associations Incorporation Act:

S44 -Submission of reports and statements to AGM failure to submit financial statements to
AGM 16 breaches X $550 = $8,800

S45 - Lodgement of documents with Director-General: failure to lodge financial statements

and auditor's reports for that year, 16 breaches X $550 = $8,800

S85 - Failure to proved information as required by the Director General of the Office of Fair
Trading = $6,600

total = $24,200

BREACHES: Charitable Fundraising Act, as described in the OLGR Report:

S9 (1) - AVN conducted fundraising appeals during the period 5 July 2007 to 1 June 2009
without holding an authority to fundraise. $5,500

S 9(2) - breached various authority conditions whilst holder of an authority to fundraise

$5,500
S 20 (7) - banking of proceeds of appeals: $5,500 fine or six months imprisonment or both

S 22 (3) AVN - did not include all particulars in its records: $5,500

total $22,000 and six months in the slammer

BREACH: Crimes Act

S307B - furnishing of false or misleading information and the production of false or

misleading documents: Imprisonment for 2 years, or a fine of $22,000 or both.

GRAND TOTAL $68,200 AND TWO YEARS AND SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT.

Further, the NSW Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing conducted an audit of the AVN and its
(supposedly) charitable activities. Read their Report here. No prizes for guessing that the
NSW Government of the time decided not to prosecute and issued a stern letter instead.

References to, and more details, of breaches are included in my publication:

Meryl Dorey’s Trouble With Finance”

“Diluted Thinking” discovered the item about lying to NSW Fair Trading and the Crimes Act,
and published it as:

“AVN: Meryl Dorey lies to NSW Fair Trading – advertising.”

Now correct me if I’m wrong, but much of that $68,200 could have gone to employing a
nurse for a year, or a few rounds of chemotherapy for a cancer patient, but instead this low-
hanging fruit goes unpicked. That has to change.

Ken McLeod

2 July 2013