From the newsrooms of the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. This is the morning edition. I'm Samantha Salinger Morris. It's Monday, December 16th. It reads like a script from a movie. A small town boy from coastal New South Wales who grew up to rub shoulders with the rich and the powerful. And then, if all the stories are true, cheating them out of a whole lot of money. Timothy John Alford is accused of being a serial swindler, cheating dozens of people in Australia and in the United States of an estimated $50 million. He's allegedly left a trail of ruin behind him, all while authorities both here and overseas have been on his case today. Chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont and investigative reporter Harriet Alexander on following the trail of an alleged con artist. So, Kate and Harriet, welcome to you both. Let's go back to January 2020 to a street in Greenwich, Connecticut, in the United States, where we've got an Australian family. They've moved into a home there. It's beautiful. It's surrounded by acres of lawn. You know, it's at the end of a sweeping driveway. They've bought a puppy. They've joined the country club. It's the full picture hosting pool parties. They appeared to have settled there, but then they disappeared. So, Harriet, over to you first. Tell me about this.

From the newsrooms of the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. This is the morning edition. I'm Samantha Salinger Morris. It's Monday, December 16th. It reads like a script from a movie. A small town boy from coastal New South Wales who grew up to rub shoulders with the rich and the powerful. And then, if all the stories are true, cheating them out of a whole lot of money. Timothy John Alford is accused of being a serial swindler, cheating dozens of people in Australia and in the United States of an estimated $50 million. He's allegedly left a trail of ruin behind him, all while authorities both here and overseas have been on his case today. Chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont and investigative reporter Harriet Alexander on following the trail of an alleged con artist. So, Kate and Harriet, welcome to you both. Let's go back to January 2020 to a street in Greenwich, Connecticut, in the United States, where we've got an Australian family. They've moved into a home there. It's beautiful. It's surrounded by acres of lawn. You know, it's at the end of a sweeping driveway. They've bought a puppy. They've joined the country club. It's the full picture hosting pool parties. They appeared to have settled there, but then they disappeared. So, Harriet, over to you first. Tell me about this.

Yeah. So, as you said that, um, Greenwich in Connecticut is a very well-off suburb. A lot of Wall Street bankers live there, and they commute to work in the city in Manhattan. Um, I think at the time they were living there, um, Forbes magazine said that there were 15 billionaires living in the greater Greenwich area. And yeah, they seem to fit right in. They had all the trappings of wealth the gardener, the nanny, the four car garage, the swimming pool, the huge house. And then it appeared that they hadn't ever actually bought the house. And the neighbors quickly realized that all was not as it seemed with the Australians who lived there, and in particular the husband, a man named Tim Orford. And it certainly wasn't the impression that the people, other people living there had, they all thought that he owned the house they'd moved in. They were going to be there for good. So after a while the purchase funds had never materialised and the rent became sporadic. They stopped paying rent. They'd got up to about $75,000 in arrears when the couple who owned the house? Who are Richard and Cecilia Attias? Cecilia Attias, you might not remember her name, but she was the former first lady of France who walked out on Nicolas Sarkozy while he was in office. They own the house, so once the orphans had got up to $75,000 in arrears, they kicked them out. The first two times they evicted them, the orphans refused to leave. Finally, they did leave. When they left, there were tire tracks gouged out of the lawn. The security pad on the gate was hanging out of its box. All of the paneling in the house had been stripped out. There was water leakage all through the house as well. Electric light fittings had been taken out of their sockets. The carpet had been torn up, and neighbors had were absolutely shocked because the Alfords had only just joined the country club and they just thought, what the hell? Who the hell were these people?

Yeah. So, as you said that, um, Greenwich in Connecticut is a very well-off suburb. A lot of Wall Street bankers live there, and they commute to work in the city in Manhattan. Um, I think at the time they were living there, um, Forbes magazine said that there were 15 billionaires living in the greater Greenwich area. And yeah, they seem to fit right in. They had all the trappings of wealth the gardener, the nanny, the four car garage, the swimming pool, the huge house. And then it appeared that they hadn't ever actually bought the house. And the neighbors quickly realized that all was not as it seemed with the Australians who lived there, and in particular the husband, a man named Tim Orford. And it certainly wasn't the impression that the people, other people living there had, they all thought that he owned the house they'd moved in. They were going to be there for good. So after a while the purchase funds had never materialised and the rent became sporadic. They stopped paying rent. They'd got up to about $75,000 in arrears when the couple who owned the house? Who are Richard and Cecilia Attias? Cecilia Attias, you might not remember her name, but she was the former first lady of France who walked out on Nicolas Sarkozy while he was in office. They own the house, so once the orphans had got up to $75,000 in arrears, they kicked them out. The first two times they evicted them, the orphans refused to leave. Finally, they did leave. When they left, there were tire tracks gouged out of the lawn. The security pad on the gate was hanging out of its box. All of the paneling in the house had been stripped out. There was water leakage all through the house as well. Electric light fittings had been taken out of their sockets. The carpet had been torn up, and neighbors had were absolutely shocked because the Alfords had only just joined the country club and they just thought, what the hell? Who the hell were these people?

Okay, so Kate, over to you because now let's enter the world of 41 year old Tim Alford. You know, one of his alleged victims, I believe, called him Hurricane Tim because obviously there was a whole life he had in Australia before this disappearing act in Connecticut. And you've unraveled it. I mean, a whole history of alleged manipulation of stock markets, cheating business partners. He's been accused of failing to pay bills, forging documents, embezzling funds. Some of his alleged victims were really well known business people from very well-known families in Australia and the US. I mean, it really does read like something out of a movie. So, Kate, what was Alfred's alleged modus operandi like? What was his suspected con? Well, his.

Okay, so Kate, over to you because now let's enter the world of 41 year old Tim Alford. You know, one of his alleged victims, I believe, called him Hurricane Tim because obviously there was a whole life he had in Australia before this disappearing act in Connecticut. And you've unraveled it. I mean, a whole history of alleged manipulation of stock markets, cheating business partners. He's been accused of failing to pay bills, forging documents, embezzling funds. Some of his alleged victims were really well known business people from very well-known families in Australia and the US. I mean, it really does read like something out of a movie. So, Kate, what was Alfred's alleged modus operandi like? What was his suspected con? Well, his.

Suspected con was that he would very convincingly convince people that he had this company. There was a whole range of them mining companies, medical companies, um, a cannabis company. They were going to list on the stock exchange. And he would either get loans from people that would be converted into shares or people would, you know, basically buy in. And when the company got listed, their shares would be worth a lot more. So it's getting in on the ground level. But there were no listings. And when he refused to pay their money back, he would say, oh, look, look, you know, there's been a bit of a problem here, a bit of a problem there. Look, I've got a better deal. Let's convert your debt into shares in a new company again, illusory, but it was interesting. Like he did this over and over again, and there was actually a judgment in the New South Wales District Court in 2014 which found that Tim Alford had engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct, and the judge in that case said there was no evidence whatsoever that Tim Alford ever tried, intended to list those companies. So it wasn't as though they were all failures at the last moment. But the key thing is here is that investors money, somehow or other found their way into Tim Alford's own pockets. And in fact, the best example given to us was by a dying declaration by Melbourne business figure John Darling, the fifth. So we're talking August 2019. And he's we've got the video. He's sitting in his hospital chair saying there is just one person.

Suspected con was that he would very convincingly convince people that he had this company. There was a whole range of them mining companies, medical companies, um, a cannabis company. They were going to list on the stock exchange. And he would either get loans from people that would be converted into shares or people would, you know, basically buy in. And when the company got listed, their shares would be worth a lot more. So it's getting in on the ground level. But there were no listings. And when he refused to pay their money back, he would say, oh, look, look, you know, there's been a bit of a problem here, a bit of a problem there. Look, I've got a better deal. Let's convert your debt into shares in a new company again, illusory, but it was interesting. Like he did this over and over again, and there was actually a judgment in the New South Wales District Court in 2014 which found that Tim Alford had engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct, and the judge in that case said there was no evidence whatsoever that Tim Alford ever tried, intended to list those companies. So it wasn't as though they were all failures at the last moment. But the key thing is here is that investors money, somehow or other found their way into Tim Alford's own pockets. And in fact, the best example given to us was by a dying declaration by Melbourne business figure John Darling, the fifth. So we're talking August 2019. And he's we've got the video. He's sitting in his hospital chair saying there is just one person.

What can only be one man.

What can only be one man.

Who took the money from my company, and that is Timothy J. Altman.

Who took the money from my company, and that is Timothy J. Altman.

Timothy J. Hartford.

Timothy J. Hartford.

And what had happened was that, again, as was the modus operandi, Tim had got people to invest, but because Tim was a bankrupt, he could not be directors of companies. So he approached John Darling, the fifth, to be a director. And then he forged documents, allegedly allowing him to get access to the bank account that was holding investors funds. And we've got the bank accounts and you can see all this money is going out to Tim Alford, but crucially, $400,000 of investors funds went to his former lawyer, who represented him in the bankruptcy. So it's looking like Tim Alford is using new alleged victims to get himself out of trouble with his bankruptcy. So as soon as he gets his bankruptcy annulled, he has left the country and he's installed himself in the Greenwich House of the artists, as John Darling is giving his dying deposition. And the crucial thing about that was that his allegations were used and his statements were used. And there's currently a warrant out for his arrest in Victoria in relation to the John Darling allegations. But as we now know, Hurricane Tim had blown off into greener pastures where there was a whole array of fresh alleged victims awaiting him.

And what had happened was that, again, as was the modus operandi, Tim had got people to invest, but because Tim was a bankrupt, he could not be directors of companies. So he approached John Darling, the fifth, to be a director. And then he forged documents, allegedly allowing him to get access to the bank account that was holding investors funds. And we've got the bank accounts and you can see all this money is going out to Tim Alford, but crucially, $400,000 of investors funds went to his former lawyer, who represented him in the bankruptcy. So it's looking like Tim Alford is using new alleged victims to get himself out of trouble with his bankruptcy. So as soon as he gets his bankruptcy annulled, he has left the country and he's installed himself in the Greenwich House of the artists, as John Darling is giving his dying deposition. And the crucial thing about that was that his allegations were used and his statements were used. And there's currently a warrant out for his arrest in Victoria in relation to the John Darling allegations. But as we now know, Hurricane Tim had blown off into greener pastures where there was a whole array of fresh alleged victims awaiting him.

Let's get down to perhaps the psychology of it. I mean, what is it about Tim Alford? How does he convince people to hand over their money? You know, this is a man who was born in a small town of just over 25,000 people on the New South Wales coast, called Taree. He later grew up in Newcastle, which was, you know, once well known for being a steel mill town. So what was it about him?

Let's get down to perhaps the psychology of it. I mean, what is it about Tim Alford? How does he convince people to hand over their money? You know, this is a man who was born in a small town of just over 25,000 people on the New South Wales coast, called Taree. He later grew up in Newcastle, which was, you know, once well known for being a steel mill town. So what was it about him?

Look, I think like a lot of con artists, it's plausibility. It's being convincing. And it's also, I think you have a hint of narcissism, as in, you have lack of empathy. You don't care. You sleep well at night. And even though, I mean, can you imagine the stress of having people chasing you? And yet there is something compelling you to do this over and over again.

Look, I think like a lot of con artists, it's plausibility. It's being convincing. And it's also, I think you have a hint of narcissism, as in, you have lack of empathy. You don't care. You sleep well at night. And even though, I mean, can you imagine the stress of having people chasing you? And yet there is something compelling you to do this over and over again.

Yeah. When you were talking just then, I was remembering some of the text message exchanges that people have sent me between themselves and Tim, with them saying, when's when are you going to send me the money? And he just fobs them off every time. Oh, I need, I'm waiting for the lawyer. I need an answer from the bank. It needs to be audited. There's this text message streams of hundreds long, and he always comes up with another excuse for why the money hasn't come back. And when you look at them all in one, it's almost as though he's playing with them. Like it's like he enjoys it. But the other interesting thing is, I think, is that he's actually got a really good read on people. He knows exactly what buttons to push, what particular person. So one person, for example, was a real people pleaser. He wanted to please people. And so Tim knew exactly how to play him, or somebody else might want to be made to feel important. And so Tim knows exactly how to make them feel important. Yeah, I think he has fun with it.

Yeah. When you were talking just then, I was remembering some of the text message exchanges that people have sent me between themselves and Tim, with them saying, when's when are you going to send me the money? And he just fobs them off every time. Oh, I need, I'm waiting for the lawyer. I need an answer from the bank. It needs to be audited. There's this text message streams of hundreds long, and he always comes up with another excuse for why the money hasn't come back. And when you look at them all in one, it's almost as though he's playing with them. Like it's like he enjoys it. But the other interesting thing is, I think, is that he's actually got a really good read on people. He knows exactly what buttons to push, what particular person. So one person, for example, was a real people pleaser. He wanted to please people. And so Tim knew exactly how to play him, or somebody else might want to be made to feel important. And so Tim knows exactly how to make them feel important. Yeah, I think he has fun with it.

Okay. So let's get into the accountability because we know that the FBI has interest in Tim Wolford. In this case, there's a warrant out for his arrest in Victoria as you've mentioned previously. So what is happening here? Like, why hasn't he been forced to answer to these allegations?

Okay. So let's get into the accountability because we know that the FBI has interest in Tim Wolford. In this case, there's a warrant out for his arrest in Victoria as you've mentioned previously. So what is happening here? Like, why hasn't he been forced to answer to these allegations?

Well, it's also you know, you look at at ASIC, you look at the the continual complaints about his supposed listings and the same thing in the US. And you do think, why has nothing been done to stop this repeated allegedly appalling behaviour occurring again and again? And the thing is, the overall pattern is massive, but the accumulation of incremental alleged frauds. So I wonder whether if people actually sat down like the FBI sat down and said, right, we've got this person, this person, this person and this person and did a case looking at, you know, tendency evidence. But it's I just don't know why he is still getting away with it. We've heard that he's moved to Colombia Where he's trying to do the same thing there.

Well, it's also you know, you look at at ASIC, you look at the the continual complaints about his supposed listings and the same thing in the US. And you do think, why has nothing been done to stop this repeated allegedly appalling behaviour occurring again and again? And the thing is, the overall pattern is massive, but the accumulation of incremental alleged frauds. So I wonder whether if people actually sat down like the FBI sat down and said, right, we've got this person, this person, this person and this person and did a case looking at, you know, tendency evidence. But it's I just don't know why he is still getting away with it. We've heard that he's moved to Colombia Where he's trying to do the same thing there.

After the break. An anatomy of an investigation into a suspected serial con artist. Kate, I want to turn now to how you go about stacking up a story like this. So first, when did you first hear about him?

After the break. An anatomy of an investigation into a suspected serial con artist. Kate, I want to turn now to how you go about stacking up a story like this. So first, when did you first hear about him?

Look, strangely enough, I first heard about him in another case that I was involved in. And this was the 2009 murder of a Sydney businessman, Michael McGurk. And as it turned out, behind the murder was very rich property developer Ron Medich, previously.

Look, strangely enough, I first heard about him in another case that I was involved in. And this was the 2009 murder of a Sydney businessman, Michael McGurk. And as it turned out, behind the murder was very rich property developer Ron Medich, previously.

The property developer, had business dealings with Mr. McGurk, who was shot dead on the driveway of his North Shore home in front of his young son in September last year.

The property developer, had business dealings with Mr. McGurk, who was shot dead on the driveway of his North Shore home in front of his young son in September last year.

Guess who was involved with Ron Medich? Lovely Mr. Alford. So Ron Medich had a consigliere called Lucky Gattellari, who was a former boxer, but also performed the dirty work for Ron Medich, in fact, including hiring the hit men who did the murder.

Guess who was involved with Ron Medich? Lovely Mr. Alford. So Ron Medich had a consigliere called Lucky Gattellari, who was a former boxer, but also performed the dirty work for Ron Medich, in fact, including hiring the hit men who did the murder.

The court heard that after his arrest, Gattellari threatened to dump on Medich unless he was paid $1 million. The Crown opposed bail, but he was.

The court heard that after his arrest, Gattellari threatened to dump on Medich unless he was paid $1 million. The Crown opposed bail, but he was.

Also chasing up people like Tim Elford. And like in the court case, it was, um, you know, put to him that he did this work. This is lucky Gattellari. And he said, oh, yes, yes. He said, um, I recall Ron Medich saying, I want you to find that little bastard and give him a slap in the face and get my money back for him. And this was over an alleged debt of $300,000 that Orford owed. Now, we've put this to Tim Orford before, and he's always said, oh, no, completely wrong. I was Ron's stockbroker, so back in 2009, he must have been, you know, only 30 or something like that. So how he is the stockbroker and he was bankrupt at the time, Mr. Alford. So I'm just not sure about the accuracies of his denials in that case. The thing is, so when you do stories like this, other people who in later years were affected by Tim Alford, they would contact you and say, I see you've written about him before. And then Harriet and I did another story about him. Harriet, what year was it?

Also chasing up people like Tim Elford. And like in the court case, it was, um, you know, put to him that he did this work. This is lucky Gattellari. And he said, oh, yes, yes. He said, um, I recall Ron Medich saying, I want you to find that little bastard and give him a slap in the face and get my money back for him. And this was over an alleged debt of $300,000 that Orford owed. Now, we've put this to Tim Orford before, and he's always said, oh, no, completely wrong. I was Ron's stockbroker, so back in 2009, he must have been, you know, only 30 or something like that. So how he is the stockbroker and he was bankrupt at the time, Mr. Alford. So I'm just not sure about the accuracies of his denials in that case. The thing is, so when you do stories like this, other people who in later years were affected by Tim Alford, they would contact you and say, I see you've written about him before. And then Harriet and I did another story about him. Harriet, what year was it?

2010. I was just looking that up. I thought it was 2022, but I just looked up. It's actually 2020. So in 2020 we did another story, and this was a story about Sean Lander, which might not be a name that you would immediately recognize, but Sean Lander is the original love rat. So Sean Lander, he was the the man at the center of Stephanie Wood's memoir fake, which has since been turned into a miniseries because she after they broke up, she realized that he'd invented his whole persona? She'd thought that he was a retired architect with a sheep property, and he was an undischarged bankrupt, with a criminal record and involved with another woman. So he was a con man of a different type. He wasn't after money, but he. He was a fantasist. And Sean Lander, back in 2020, was charged with using a carriage service to menace harass because he was chasing Tim Alford over an alleged debt. Tim Alford had moved to America, so Sean Lander had sent a thug to pose outside Alford's mother's house, and I think he'd scratched on her door or something like glass. And there was a sign saying Last Chance, and it scratched something on the door with a screwdriver. Anyway, so we wrote the story, and then we started to get emails from people in America saying, This Tim Alford guy, that's not all he's been involved in. You should really start looking at him. So it wasn't just.

2010. I was just looking that up. I thought it was 2022, but I just looked up. It's actually 2020. So in 2020 we did another story, and this was a story about Sean Lander, which might not be a name that you would immediately recognize, but Sean Lander is the original love rat. So Sean Lander, he was the the man at the center of Stephanie Wood's memoir fake, which has since been turned into a miniseries because she after they broke up, she realized that he'd invented his whole persona? She'd thought that he was a retired architect with a sheep property, and he was an undischarged bankrupt, with a criminal record and involved with another woman. So he was a con man of a different type. He wasn't after money, but he. He was a fantasist. And Sean Lander, back in 2020, was charged with using a carriage service to menace harass because he was chasing Tim Alford over an alleged debt. Tim Alford had moved to America, so Sean Lander had sent a thug to pose outside Alford's mother's house, and I think he'd scratched on her door or something like glass. And there was a sign saying Last Chance, and it scratched something on the door with a screwdriver. Anyway, so we wrote the story, and then we started to get emails from people in America saying, This Tim Alford guy, that's not all he's been involved in. You should really start looking at him. So it wasn't just.

America, it was England, Singapore, Melbourne, Perth.

America, it was England, Singapore, Melbourne, Perth.

Hong Kong.

Hong Kong.

Hong Kong. It was.

Hong Kong. It was.

Tasmania.

Tasmania.

Tasmania. It was this complete global global force of nature.

Tasmania. It was this complete global global force of nature.

Okay, so tell me, how do you how do you go from there? So Tim Alford, he's on your radar. He's on your radar a couple of times. And then all of a sudden you're getting, you know, messages from people around the globe. But how did you actually go about investigating him? I mean, what are your first steps?

Okay, so tell me, how do you how do you go from there? So Tim Alford, he's on your radar. He's on your radar a couple of times. And then all of a sudden you're getting, you know, messages from people around the globe. But how did you actually go about investigating him? I mean, what are your first steps?

Look, you reply to the messages and the first thing you say to people is, you know, look, tell me what happened and then what documents do you have? Because it's important that you can stack up what people are saying, you know, do you have a court judgment? Do you have any emails, text messages? Is there anyone who can corroborate what you're saying? And also every person that you speak to, you always say, can you give me any other leads to follow? So you speak to one person and they give you five other people.

Look, you reply to the messages and the first thing you say to people is, you know, look, tell me what happened and then what documents do you have? Because it's important that you can stack up what people are saying, you know, do you have a court judgment? Do you have any emails, text messages? Is there anyone who can corroborate what you're saying? And also every person that you speak to, you always say, can you give me any other leads to follow? So you speak to one person and they give you five other people.

And so, Harriet, tell me though, how do you actually get people who are involved in this to trust you with this information? I mean, I would have thought sometimes maybe it'd be embarrassing. I mean, these are people who've been left holding the bag, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars, you know? Yeah.

And so, Harriet, tell me though, how do you actually get people who are involved in this to trust you with this information? I mean, I would have thought sometimes maybe it'd be embarrassing. I mean, these are people who've been left holding the bag, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars, you know? Yeah.

I mean, to be honest with you, there's some stories that I've done where it's really hard to get people's trust. But this was not one of them. People were really keen to spill the beans on Tim Alford because he has annoyed so many people. There were some people who didn't want their names involved because they for exactly the reasons that you suggest that it was embarrassing to them or it was a reputational risk.

I mean, to be honest with you, there's some stories that I've done where it's really hard to get people's trust. But this was not one of them. People were really keen to spill the beans on Tim Alford because he has annoyed so many people. There were some people who didn't want their names involved because they for exactly the reasons that you suggest that it was embarrassing to them or it was a reputational risk.

Or they were worried about him, worried about Tim Alford in the last couple of days, both before our stories were published, because we'd sent Alford questions. And since publication, people have been getting calls, you know, with Tim Alford either yelling at them or saying, you know, basically you'll pay for this. Now, we're not saying that Tim Alford would actually, you know, do any of these things. They're only allegations, but it's enough to discomfort people and, you know, to make them concerned.

Or they were worried about him, worried about Tim Alford in the last couple of days, both before our stories were published, because we'd sent Alford questions. And since publication, people have been getting calls, you know, with Tim Alford either yelling at them or saying, you know, basically you'll pay for this. Now, we're not saying that Tim Alford would actually, you know, do any of these things. They're only allegations, but it's enough to discomfort people and, you know, to make them concerned.

And there was another group of people as well, which are people who were still holding out hope.

And there was another group of people as well, which are people who were still holding out hope.

That, yes.

That, yes.

There were a lot of people who still thought if I keep him close, he might still pay me. And this happened over years. And some of those people eventually conceded that he was he was never actually going to going to pay them back.

There were a lot of people who still thought if I keep him close, he might still pay me. And this happened over years. And some of those people eventually conceded that he was he was never actually going to going to pay them back.

And so I guess what has Tim Alfred's reaction been? You know, anything else besides what you've just said, that, you know, people are making allegations that he has made some angry phone calls.

And so I guess what has Tim Alfred's reaction been? You know, anything else besides what you've just said, that, you know, people are making allegations that he has made some angry phone calls.

Look, we don't know. We don't know what his plans are or whether the authorities are now going to take this seriously. We heard that they were, but it's a bit of a mystery as to what Tim Alfred's next move is going to be.

Look, we don't know. We don't know what his plans are or whether the authorities are now going to take this seriously. We heard that they were, but it's a bit of a mystery as to what Tim Alfred's next move is going to be.

Well, this is a story that's literally 15 years or so in the making. So thank you so much, Kate and Harriet, for your time.

Well, this is a story that's literally 15 years or so in the making. So thank you so much, Kate and Harriet, for your time.

My pleasure. Oh our pleasure.

My pleasure. Oh our pleasure.

Today's episode of The Morning Edition was produced by Julia Katzel. Our executive producer is Tammy Mills. Our head of audio is Tom McKendrick. The Morning Edition is a production of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. If you enjoy the show and want more of our journalism, subscribe to our newspapers today. It's the best way to support what we do. Search the age or Smh.com.au forward slash. Subscribe and sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter to receive a comprehensive summary of the day's most important news, analysis and insights in your inbox every day. Links are in the show. Notes. I'm Samantha Salinger Morris. This is the morning edition. Thanks for listening.

Today's episode of The Morning Edition was produced by Julia Katzel. Our executive producer is Tammy Mills. Our head of audio is Tom McKendrick. The Morning Edition is a production of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. If you enjoy the show and want more of our journalism, subscribe to our newspapers today. It's the best way to support what we do. Search the age or Smh.com.au forward slash. Subscribe and sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter to receive a comprehensive summary of the day's most important news, analysis and insights in your inbox every day. Links are in the show. Notes. I'm Samantha Salinger Morris. This is the morning edition. Thanks for listening.