NINO DE PARDO

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

The practitioner dishonestly redirected his father's Centrelink aged pension payments to his own company's account and, after his father's death, forged his father's signature to continue receiving payments, obtaining about $22,000 of public money he was not entitled to. The Tribunal made findings of illegal conduct and unsatisfactory conduct (by consent), found the conduct dishonest and fraudulent, and transmitted a report to the Supreme Court (full bench) recommending the practitioner be struck off. Pending that determination, the practitioner was suspended from practice and ordered to pay the Committee's costs of $2,600 within 30 days.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Knowingly received approximately $22,000 of public money he was not entitled to
• Forged his deceased father's handwriting and signature
• Dishonest conduct continued for nearly two years as a continuing series of acts
• Fraudulent conduct only ceased when Centrelink discovered the fraud

Mitigating factors:

• Consented to findings and did not oppose the orders sought (save as to costs)