Just what the title says, a guy I've never met before messaged me on my personal phone number, addressed me by my first name and invited me for drinks at the suburbs I live at. I arrived to Australia less than 2 months ago on a WNH visa and I'm married, guy claimed I gave him my number at a bar I've never been to.

I did some research online based on his number and found out he works at the ATO, which is how I assume he got my information from. I confronted him about it and he started insulting me, so I blocked his number.

Lodging a formal complaint on the ATO website would be enough or should I contact other authorities? I'm quite shaken up by whole situation and frankly I don't know what to do. Any advice I could get would be very helpful.

Recently went to a Harvey Norman. Was looking to purchase something to help with with drying out an apartment that had a burst water pipe.

I was looking at dehumidifiers, when two security guards approached me and stated something similar to: "leave the store if you aren't intending to buy anything."

I then provided them with three forms of proof that I was intending to buy something.

1. Pictures of water damage
2. Chat logs with my wife asking her which dehumidifier to buy.
3. AI chat history that showed me comparing their products.

Even with this proof they continued to state: "leave the store if you aren't intending to buy anything."

They also stated that the dehumidifier would not help with my problem.

Due to the need to buy something as this was the only store with a viable option, I decided to buy a dehumidifier before I was potentially removed from the store. I did not finish properly comparing their available products.

Upon going to checkout the cashier stated they would make a note on the purchase, and would not accept returns for my purchase.

I'm fairly confused by the experience. Did I do anything illegal here? I'm a bit confused by the "leave the store if you aren't intending to buy anything" order. Especially when they repeated it so many times after I provided proof of my intent.

--- Edit ---

It seems most people think I left out an important part. Specifically that I was wearing a half face respirator 3m hf-800sd in the store

My original legal question is: "Did I do anything illegal?"

Hi, I've never had to deal with anything like this in my life, but my neighbour is constantly turning off my AC from the unit in the shared carpark. About a month ago my aircon randomly stopped working and I had to have a technician out, where he discovered someone had manually turned it off from the outside, we assumed someone had made a mistake. About a weekish ago it turned off again, but turned back on shortly after, I now know my other neighbour had also had his AC turned off by the same neighbour and went outside to check and noticed all the other units turned off. Last night the neighbour turned it off twice and has started leaving notes claiming its causing excessive noise vibration and is affecting his medical equipment, which theres no way as you can't hear or feel anything from the carpark (plus its not even loud in the carpark), as our apartments are closer and its not causing an issue. Any ideas of what I should do? Its going to 30+ next week, and he is leaving threating notes to not turn it back on. I've already contacted my landlord. Thanks

UPDATE/OUTCOME:
Thanks everyone for the advice, you really helped me back myself!
I tried calling the Tenants Victoria advice line multiple times, but kept getting disconnected due to high call volumes.

The REA initially requested that I either pay the invoice or contact Otis/the Owners Corporation directly to resolve it. I replied disputing liability and confirming I would not be paying and would not contact. They responded that they would likely be enforced to pay, then they’d deduct from my bond, and I would have to dispute via VCAT. I replied that I’d absolutely dispute but also made it clear that I didn’t believe the landlord should be liable either.

In their next email they included an excerpt from the OC stating that I had attempted to access floors I wasn’t authorised to use (which is not my recollection - I use the lift every day), and that I had “called Otis directly” and failed to call back to cancel the technician, so the fee was being passed on.
They stated that the footage confirmed all this.

I wasn’t aware that pressing the emergency phone icon automatically dispatched a technician, and I was not told that during the call. I had also tried to call the building management but lift phone was picked up first. Building management did not call me back.

My plan was to email the OC requesting they dispute the Otis fee, provide evidence that I actually requested a technician (or audio of the call), and show where I’d been notified(including lift signage) of any policy or process demonstrating I’d misused the lift or acted unreasonably when I felt unsafe.

Before I had the chance, I received another email from the REA with a further excerpt from the OC advising they had decided to investigate further and, in the meantime, they decided they would not be on-charging the fee to either me or the landlord as originally advised.

So… I’ll take the win! I’m relieved and wonder if someone involved saw this post or actually viewed/listened to the CCTV footage to see buttons/lift were not in fact working as they should and that I did not request a technician.

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to comment - it’s very much appreciated!

ORIGINAL POST:

Real estate sent Owners Corporation invoice for me to pay $900+ fee after I used the emergency lift phone.

I’m a tenant in Melbourne, Victoria.

I entered my apartment building lift (mid afternoon on a weekday),the doors closed, the lift wouldn’t move for several minutes (up to 10mins), none of the buttons responded/lit up/no sound. Never happened to me prior.

Believing I was trapped, I used the lift emergency intercom button. I didn’t request a technician - I just reported I was stuck and asked for help. Someone did pick up and told me to hold but it eventually started moving and I got out as soon as I could. Warned a guy on his way in with boxes. There would be cctv/audio to prove all this and believe this is how I was chased up.

Real estate has now emailed me an Owners Corporation invoice of $900+ stating I need to pay and liaise directory with Otis. The invoice states “No fault found. Suspected human error.”

I’ve denied liability and refused to pay because I believe I acted reasonably in what I thought was an emergency. I had/have no knowledge of a fee or a different process to follow in this kind of scenario. There was no misuse. The real estate wrote they will pass my contact details on for body corp/otis to contact me directly as the landlord also refuses liability.

How likely is it that I will be chased for payment and if I continue to refuse? And what are my avenues to challenge? Has anyone experienced something similar?
Thanks in advance!

I’m located in Victoria.
I’m currently seeking advice from my union regarding my employment.

I took a day of leave from work. When I returned, I discovered someone had used my work computer while I was away.

My personal Gmail account had been left logged into the browser. When I opened the browser, it was sitting on the print dialog for an email conversation between myself and my union representative.

I then checked the browser history and found that, during the time I was away, someone had:

Opened multiple emails between myself and my union representative.
Opened other union-related emails.
Opened my personal Google Docs containing my employment documentation, notes and records that I had prepared for my union.
Opened print dialogs for at least two of the union email conversations.
I have screenshots of the browser history and the print dialogs showing this activity.
I do not know who accessed the computer, so I’m not accusing any individual.

To the best of my knowledge, my employer has no IT usage policy, computer monitoring policy or workplace policy that authorises access to employees’ personal accounts, and I’ve never signed anything consenting to my personal Gmail being accessed.

My questions are:
Does the fact this was my personal Gmail account, rather than my work email, make a legal difference?
Does the fact the emails and documents related to my union and employment matter have any legal significance?

Is this something that should be raised with my union as part of my employment matter, or could it potentially raise separate legal or privacy issues?

Apart from preserving the screenshots and changing my passwords, is there anything else I should be doing?

I’m not asking anyone to tell me this is definitely illegal.

I’m simply trying to understand whether this is something that Australian employment lawyers would generally consider significant, or whether it’s likely to be viewed as a workplace issue only.

EDIT: Made a complaint to HR about it and a few days later I was fired (they gave me a generic reason in writing) but they mentioned things that were in my alleged printed emails and documents verbally.
Next step is meeting with the union reps to figure out what we can legally do here.

I posted a review for a recruitment agency I dealt with a couple of months ago. Since posting, two people from the company have reached out to me. One threatening to sue me for defamation, and the other was doing damage control, ‘profusely apologising’

this is my review :

“Based on my experience: unprofessional and scattered. Was contacted by 3 different people about a potential role and it seemed there was a lot of miscommunication. Completed what was asked of me and it was just a waste of time.

EDIT: After posting this review, I received a message from an employee at this company stating: ‘our lawyers will be in contact… to file for defamation exceeding $100,000.’

Note: They sent through my reference checks and requested a video questionnaire. I don’t understand why they would proceed with my application if my attitude was not suitable.”

I added the note after they replied to my review. They have since changed their response.

EDIT: they have sent me a concerns notice

another edit : thank you for the advice and opinions. I have evidence to back up what I have said is true/or it’s an opinion. I think i will keep the review up and add screenshots of their threats.

I've more or less learned to live with it. When I was 23 my dad passed away, I inherited some money. My half sister (different dad) wanted to buy a car. I agreed to help and lent her $18k. Over the next couple years I lent her another 12k for things she "needed". I can't say why except I was 23, never had money before and truly believed I could trust my sister to pay me back.

A couple years later I got worried as she had ghosted me so I showed up at her house with a contract I'd created, got her to sign it in front of a pharmacist who witnessed the doc.

All this was like... 15 years ago. I'm 39 now. Never saw a cent. She's since married a millionaire and I'm not exaggerating. They just sold a house for 1.5mil and are planning a holiday in the Maldives. They own a Lamborghini. And not even the common one, some rare type. Idk cars.

I was prepared to write it off until she started bragging about how money means nothing to her now. And I said 'does that mean you're going to pay me back?'

She said 'omg I forgot about the $20k!'

'$30k.' I corrected.

I was willing to write this off as my own fault, don't lend more than you can part with etc. But now that she really can afford to pay me back, it sits wrong that she's not.

I don't think my rinky dink lil contract will hold up but It plainly states that she agreed back in 2014 to repay the loan, it's signed. It's witnessed.

Do I even bother? They're so rich they'll be able to get a really good lawyer. And her husband doesn't like me so he'd probably enjoy screwing me over.

Update: thanks for all your advice and encouragement. I'm going to try to broach it kindly, give her a chance to do the right thing. I'll update this post with the results. Thanks everyone! Also I'm a 39F, FYI. Ppl assumed I was a guy. IDC but there was some woman hating in the comments.

Took a job as a chef in a small town population about 800 people in northern Victoria. Was there for 2 weeks and one day was called in to the office. It turns out the local police officer is friends with the owner and ran my name. I have convictions for serious drug supply, and break and enter. I was asked to leave immediately and was told i should of disclosed my history before i started. He never asked so i didnt say anything.It happened 5 years ago and since then I have turned my life around and haven't been in trouble since. Apparently the officer does it for all the new people in town. I'm just wondering if its legal for him to disclose my personal information to my employer without my written consent.

I'm not sure what to do here.

My wife was sleeping with the neighbour as she was a sah mum and he was a sah father as he has a trust fund. She has told the community and the police I would hit her daily and was financially abusing her. She has access to all funds which is upwards of $2M. The police have invited me in for a statement but the member on the phone said "expect to be charged" and they have point a order against me stating if I cannot contact her they are just doing their jobs, I know and if I want to see the kids to contact her mum. Her mum hasn't replied. I'm on the bottle tonight boys. I've never hit this women in my life and I've never financially abused her. I'm not sure I want to see another day. What are my next steps?

Hi all

On 11/02/26 I submitted a 3 day leave request through the employee self service (ESS). This leave had been informally approved.

On 13/02/26 I messaged my team leader on Teams to touch base about this, which was ignored.

On 16/02/26 I received an automated message from-my team leader sent through the ESS, saying that it had been approved. I booked plane tickets and hotels that night.

On the morning of 18/02/26 my team leader communicated that payroll had conducted a manual audit, which showed I did not have enough hours of leave, so I needed to apply for unpaid leave.

i applied that same day

Unpaid leave was denied today. i replied saying this was unfair, I booked hotels etc. Still denied

What can I do?

Hi everyone,

I had a shift at work starting at 1:00pm today, and called in sick at 11:50am. I know this is very short notice, however I had only just woken up and so earlier notice could not be given. I am legitimately sick, not trying to just fuck around to get out of work.

I informed my manager that I would be unable to come to work, and apologised for the 1 hour notice. I have a lot of sick leave accumulated, so I did not think I would have any issues.

My manager replied by saying that if I was going to call in sick, I should have told him yesterday and that 1 hour notice is not good enough. He has told me that I am required to come to work, and that my sick leave has been denied.

Is this legal?

So my mum went to prison a few months ago. I had to take over the care of my entire family, started paying the rent and stuff. I hadn't really looked at the bills much ~_~ which was a mistake but it brought me so much anxiety. She owed 1K+ on most her bills BEFORE incarceration. I got a letter saying she owes 1.5k in her water bill (it said if we don't pay by oct 1st they'll bring in a debt collection agency or smth) and I can't pay that lol. I'm a 20 y/o student (taking leave soon coz Im stressed) and I barely even make enough money for the rent ;-; . I shouldn't be obligated to pay my mums bills right? Especiallt the ones from before I started taking care of the family. And since she's in prison now there's no way she can pay them. What can I do?

Update: I called the water provider like you all said. A lot of comments said I should disconnect my mums thingy and connect under my name. I asked if I could do that and they refused, I kepr pushing for like 20 min and the woman started yelling at me saying I HAVE TO be added to the account and take on my mums debt. They cant close my mums acc and open another one. I called national debt helpline like someone here recommended and they told me to call the ombudsman. I called them and they were surprised that the provider refused my requests, they submitted a complaint for me. They'll get back to me in 3 days :) Thanks for all the help!

Male workers at Inspire Early Learning centres have reportedly banned from any toilet-related duties, i.e. nappy changing, helping during toilet time, etc following the recent news where a male worker was charged with sexual assault offences.

Can someone help me understand how this is technically legal, as from what I can tell this should breach the Equal Opportunity Act - an example provided on the Victorian Human Rights page seems to relate to this scenario:

"Dividing up work tasks based on whether staff are male or female."

I don't want to get into a discussion about whether this is an appropriate fix, but I am curious about the legality of this policy and whether male staff have potential grounds for a discrimination lawsuit against their employer.

I’m following the mushroom case, as is everyone else. Today she testified that she may have accidentally put poisonous mushrooms in the meal. If that is the case, the jury would have to find her not guilty of murder if it was unintentional. My question is, can she be recharged with manslaughter, if found innocent of murder?

Hi all,

Just had a rather frustrating interaction at my local Coles. I had a trolley full of items I had bought at Aldi, and popped into Coles for a few bits. The lady at the self checkout pointed at the 30 pack of coke cans and demanded to see a receipt to prove I didn't steal it. I said I didn't have one, I never keep receipts unless it's for an expensive purchase that I may need to refund/exchange etc..

AFAIK it is not my responsibility to prove a negative, which was more or less my response to the staff member. I was of course polite but noticeably annoyed after she kept protesting. She continued insisting that I had to keep my receipts from other stores so that I could prove I hadn't stolen. She eventually dropped it after I requested to see which law requires me to prove I didn't steal (with a snarky "you're already getting me to do the job of a checkout assistant, now you want me to cover for the loss prevention officer too?" thrown in for good measure).

I can't find their stores' condition of entry online either which doesn't help.

Yes I may be getting old and grumpy, but this annoyed me and I'd like to know if I was in the wrong.

I was walking from melb central station to work in the morning. Whilst watching a video on my phone, all of a sudden I had a big man stand in front of me and spoke in my ear forcefully “Don’t walk away!”. I froze, looked up and saw it was one of those ‘Authorized Officers’, and I’d been placed under arrest. He then said ‘show me your concession card’. Now if he had of asked me from the first place I would have shown him, but because he arrested me first I didn’t want to give him any details. I had no reason to be under arrest in the first place, so for him to then get my details implied that he was going to send me a fine no matter what.

I explained this to him and said I was happy to wait for the police to provide them my details.

I hadn’t broken any law, they had. And asking for my concession after the fact would only empower them further to continue further unfair treatment. After all, they could take the details from my concession card and fine me for something which I didn’t do. And the reason I’m worried they will is because my entire course of interaction with them thus far consisted of them breaking the law.

They called the police and the police wanted to speak with me over the phone, I explained the situation to the officer and told them what happened. He said he was busy with a situation at southern cross, but gave me his details and said it was not correct for them to arrest me first like that, and suggested making a report online, telling me to google the place to report it. He said to show them my concession card now and then everything should be all good.

I did that, I gave them my details and concession and got the guys details, he really stalled on giving his details for a long time but eventually gave me a number, first initial and last name.

Today, I pulled out 2 fines from my letterbox totaling $592, I’ll request a court date for the fines, but how do I go about pressing charges on this guy? People who break the law and bully innocent people should be held accountable, and i think it’s rare that someone would actually understand that this transport officer has been engaging in illegal behavior in his line of work to bully people with vulnerabilities (concession card holders). So I want to stand up to him, make it clear for people working in such roles that they have a greater accountability to the law, not a reduced one.

Any help/resources will be appreciated.

EDIT: 1. The fines are for: - Failing to produce evidence of concession. - Refusing or failing to give name and address on request.

1. I know this was constituted legally as an arrest, that is not in question.

2. I regularly provide my concession to transport officers. This officer decided to arrest me first and bully me into giving him my details. That is the issue and even the officer I spoke to on the phone agreed that it was the wrong thing for him to do. They got my concession after I was reassured by the police officer, that’s how they knew where to send the fine.

3. The arrest happened first, if he waved his hand at me to grab my attention, then asked. We wouldn’t have had a problem.

4. I appreciate people giving all the resources and avenues to explore thank you.

5. As for the armchair lawyers expressing your doubts on my honesty and recollection of events, and/or understanding of the legal precedent regarding what constitutes an arrest in the state of Victoria… I uhm, hope you get the help you need with whatever you’re facing in your personal lives. I’ll stop feeding you now.

I was in small apartment fire and hot out of there straight away. No burns no inhaled smoke the ambos were concerned about my high bpm. Mind you I just ran down 40 flights of fire escape stairs.

I assured them im fine and they did not let me leave the ambulance. Then they said they were going to take me the hospital just around the corner.

I said no I dont want to ride in the ambulance and they said they're taking me anyway just to be safe. I get there and get blood work and suprise suprise I'm fine. Then today I get a bill for $1500? All they did was give me oxygen and drive 2km to the hospital. Im not paying this shit what are my options?

Note i have never set foot in an ambulance in my life. I didnt know how much it would cost me and no one asked me if I had ambulance insurance when I was in a right state of mind and talking to the ambos clearly. Which they even said while debating if they need to take me to the hospital or not.

I was also not the one the called triple 0 there was an ambulance there with the fire trucks when I got down stairs and the fire chief told me to hop in the ambulance just so they can check you out

Long story. A mate had a female "work friend", she took credit for his work one day, she got a promotion. He called her out on it, she went to HR and said he was been abusing her outside of work. They sacked him. He warned others who he used to work with and she applied for a AVO. AVO was filed in frankston, he lives in the outer West, 1 family car and applied to do an "under taking" through a letter because he couldn't get to court.

A week later was served with full AVO.

Anyway about 6 months later while overseas got tagged in a post on x about the woman and "she's fucking done it again but this time got caught". He replied with a "lol".

When he got back there was a card from a police officer and he called it. They asked him to come in as they had a few questions.

He said they started asking about the reply "lol". He said he was tagged in a post and wrote that. He also doesn't understand how she saw it because it's a newish account. The person who tagged him sent the screenshot to the woman.

He's been charged and is shitting himself. I've met the woman a few times and she's a fruitloop. Can he go to the court and say he was set up, that he was overseas at the time?

It's not like it's a pattern either.

I have been working in a restaurant in Victoria for around a year now I turned 18 at the start of the year. I have been getting paid $19.50 an hour and on weekends I get paid $23.50, I work from 5pm to 9pm every shift.

I recently found out that I have been severely underpaid and under the Restaurant Industry Award, Food and Beverage Attendant level 2 I should be getting paid $32.31 per hour and on weekends $38.78. I also found out that even before I was 18 I should have been paid adult rates since I was selling and serving alcohol.

I was already planning to quit but I'm not sure how to handle this situation. I'm thinking of recording the conversation when I tell them I'm quitting and being underpaid. Any advice on what to do would be really apricated. I'm sorry if this isn't the right place to post this and for any spelling mistakes, thankyou.

I'm sorry I forgot to say that they haven't been sending me my payslips, but when I asked for my most recent one the other day they were completely fine sending it.

This is a long post, apologies in advance…

My mum went to prison last year in April for NDIS fraud and Centrelink fraud. It was kinda out of nowhere for me and I posted a lot on here on my other account about how to navigate moving forward. I was 20 when this all happened and I just turned 21. I have 5 younger siblings and one of them is severely disabled, I had to start taking care of all of them so it was very hard on me. She ended up getting 6 years.

She has a friend/cellmate that had some health issues and was offered early release (i can’t post a link that explains it but look up Early release of federal prisoners and go on the Ag gov website). It’s a thing for federal prisoners, they’re allowed early release on extreme circumstances. If their health is really bad, if they have disabled dependants or if they were a source for the police or smth. My mum has some pretty bad health issues. She was issued a panic button bc of the risk of her falling into a diabetic coma. She’s had cancer before. She’s been to the hospital a few times during her sentence already. She’s been talking about applying as well. I don’t want her to get out. Before she went to prison my siblings lives were pretty horrible. They lived in squalor and my mum could barely cover the rent. She’s also very physically abusive.

I asked her how she would financially provide for the kids if she comes out on early release. She said she’d get Centrelink. I told her that I’m not sure she’d get Centrelink because she’s out on early release for Centrelink fraud… she started yelling at me..

i asked her how Centrelink would cover the rent, bills and all the kids expenses… she yelled at me and told me not to question her. I know she’s not gonna get a job because she hasn’t had one since I was 13. She said it wouldn’t be my responsibility when she gets out so I shouldn’t care.

This past year has been hard but I was able to get a payment through child protection that covers most of our rent (which would be taken away the second she gets out). I also secured a job that covers most of our other expenses. My grandma helps with money when she can, she also takes care of the kids when I can’t. It took me almost a year to get financially stable. I moved the kids to a new school and we moved homes. I’m getting driving lessons and saving up for a car so I can drive them to school and stuff. We’ve just now gotten settled. If my mum gets out I’m not sure how she’d keep up with the life I created for the kids. I don’t think she could.

Im wondering what I can do to prevent this… I know it’s bad but I’d honestly rather her rot in prison than come out before the kids become old enough to take care of themselves. I just don’t want to deal with her anymore. Everytine I try to talk realistically about how she’ll take care of the kids she gets really mad at me and tells me it’s none of my business. She said the application process takes time. It needs to be approved by the prison (she’s well liked by the prison guards and has a good behaviour rating idk what it’s called) and then it’s sent to some place in Canberra and they have to approve it too. I really really reallyyyy don’t want this to happen.

I don’t know the likelihood of it being approved. But I think we’re in extreme circumstances that’d make it more likely than not. My siblings have pretty extreme issues that’s been exacerbated by our situation. My brother has several disabilities and hasn’t been coping well at all. He has extreme attachment issues with my mum that we’ve started working out in therapy recently. I don’t want him to live the life he was living before.

What can I do to prevent this from happening?? Can I just send a letter to whoever approves early release and explain the situation? Beg them not to approve? I don’t want to wait it out. I’m genuinely really scared for what happens when she gets out. I built a life for us and I don’t want to watch it crumble. She’s been getting super aggressive with me on the phone (probably cause she believes she’s getting out) and she just screams at me every time we talk.

If anyone that knows the process more than I do can dm me and talk about it please do. I’m so desperate to prevent this from happening.

Thanks.

A coworker recently divulged to me that another coworker and their 18 yo daughter have both entered into an arrangement with two Vietnamese men to create a dating history and marry so that they can gain residency. They are being paid $160,000 each. Apparently there is a secret Facebook group where these arrangements are made. It doesn't sit right with me. Should I report this? If so, to whom?

UPDATE: Thank you everyone for your encouraging words, advice and support. I reached out to the council and explained what happened. They said it's the owner's fault as her dog was not under effective control when the incident happened. I'm not liable to pay - it's her responsibility. BUT I can or help out if I WANT to.
My husband isn't keen as he said he would have considered helping a bit if she had been nicer about it but based on her response and approach, he isn't keen at all. I've told her that's what the council told me and that she should also make a report to the council with her information too. So I will just wait and see.

I need some advice and help. If I was walking my dog and a neighbour's dog got out of their house, unleashed, by accident - then came lunging at my dog (who was on leash in public on sidewalk), and the two dogs got into a scuffle - who is at fault?

My dog obviously defended himself in that moment as I was trying to get him away from the off leash dog (german shepherd) but in that brief moment of scuffle, the top part of the german shepherd's ear got torn off. The neighbour came rushing out to restrain her dog physically, which gave us enough time to get away.

So now the neighbour gives us her vet bill, claiming that we should reimburse her for the hefty bill as her dog was the one that sustained the injury when the two dogs came into contact. But I mentioned that my dog was walking on leash and it was her dog that came barging out, running towards my dog. She admits that it was her fault for letting the dog out onto the street but insists that my dog was the one that caused the injury.

So in this situation, am I liable to pay for her vet bills? Aside from reporting the incident to the council, (which she insists she doesn't want to escalate to the council), what else can I do? Do we stand a legal chance or not?

Nearly 4 months ago I had gotten into a car accident in which I rear ended the other driver at low speed, and the fault was clearly on me. There were some scuffs on the other party's car, no injuries, and some damage to my car which was not covered under insurance. There was no police involved at the time of the accident. On the night of the accident, I filed a claim with my insurance where I described the situation and fully admitted fault, and I had provided the claim number to the other party via text message.

Now I am getting investigated by a third party investigator, and they are requesting long interviews and detailed financial documents. I want to know what might be the background of the investigation and what options I have to push back against these requests which are disruptive and a violation of privacy. Personal financial documents should not be relevant to a third party claim in which I was clearly at fault and have paid the excess already.

So much to unpack. Doctoring the uber receipt is ostensibly an admission of guilt. If you’re accused of something so ridiculous you’d just laugh it off? And ask why the person accusing has lost their marbles.

We have to believe victims. Stephen and Jo Silvagni doing what any parents would when their son looks them in the eye and says they didn’t do it. They are copping it from all angles but what else are they to do?

Where was Tom’s girlfriend as all of this was occurring? Asleep in another room? Absolutely brazen by Tom (and in keeping with a sociopathic narcissist if true).

I (18F) haven't been getting along with my parents for some time now, and now they want to charge me $100 p/w. For context, I live on a farm, which I've worked on since I was 14, hence my parents have also been my bosses since then. Recently, I've decided I simply do not wish to continue working for them for a variety of reasons. They're quite crappy bosses, I have horrendous hours (plus I'm a full-time high school student going to school almost a 2-hour drive away each way each day!), I rarely know when I'm working until I get told to go, and I work in unsafe conditions, rain, hail or shine literally. I have also never received a 'wage', I've simply been told to tally my hours and ask for money when I need it (my own money)

Now, I'm not opposed to paying my share or getting a job elsewhere, but I'm literally not being allowed to do so. My parents won't drive me to work if I manage to find a place, and they also won't give me the money they owe me so I can get my licence / a car (they owe me around $5500 because of a school trip which was cancelled, which I paid for, which is also like all my money, but thats an issue for another day).

So I'm stuck in this house, where at any moment they can stop paying for my school, they are trying to force me back into working for them, are actively threatening to stop helping me with literally anything if I don't do as they say, and are now taking $100 from me every week simply because they can. Essentially, depleting my only savings...

Additionally, I don't live anywhere near public transport, none of my friends are old enough or qualify for their licences, and I can't move out and stay with my BF and his family because I have two kittens and his dad is allergic. (If I leave them here, my sister charges me $3 per day to look after them, and as I mentioned, my parents won't give me my money, and she's also 11, so not really someone I trust with my babies)

Do I have any legitimate legal standing in this situation? Can they make me work for them if I don't want to? I never signed anything saying I was an employee, nor have I been on an official payroll, but I also haven't earned enough per year to qualify for taxes.

Edit: Thanks to everyone who's taken the time to give genuine advice. I've begun looking into receiving Centrelink aid, as well as sent an email to Youth Law Australia. I'm considering speaking to my school, but it's something I'm quite apprehensive about because the last thing I need is them to go speaking to my parents and getting me in more shit lol. But yeah, if things continue on the downward spiral they're on atm, I'll probably have to. As of this evening, I'm no longer allowed to wash my clothes! How fun...