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 into his company's bank account and later forged his late father's signature to continue obtaining payments, misappropriating around $22,000 of public money over nearly two years. The Tribunal found him guilty of illegal conduct and unsatisfactory conduct by illegal conduct, expressly finding dishonest and fraudulent conduct. It transmitted a report to the Supreme Court (full bench) recommending he be struck off, suspended him from practice pending that determination, and ordered him to pay costs of $2,600.

Duties found breached:

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

Aggravating factors:

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

Mitigating factors:

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