William Robert Feeney

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

The respondent, an Australian lawyer admitted in 2006 but never holding a practising certificate, was convicted in 2017 of dishonestly causing a risk of loss to the Commonwealth by failing to remit over $2.3 million in PAYG tax withholdings to the ATO, diverting funds to a family trust and taking steps to conceal his conduct. He was sentenced to 3.5 years imprisonment and ordered to pay $1,425,194 reparation. QCAT declared the conduct to be professional misconduct, found significant dishonesty was involved, recommended removal of his name from the local roll, and ordered him to pay $20,000 costs.

Duties found breached:

• Honesty
• Personal probity and fitness to practise

Aggravating factors:

• Large amount involved (over $2.3 million in PAYG tax not remitted)
• Significant dishonesty and concealment (false statements to staff and ATO auditor, altering ASIC records)
• Diversion of funds to Wilky Trust used to purchase real estate
• Term of imprisonment of 3.5 years imposed and reparation of $1,425,194 ordered
• No demonstrated change to character; probably permanently unfit to practise

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted the allegations and accepted characterisation as professional misconduct
• Did not oppose removal from roll
• Cooperated by agreeing to costs order