This is a very special appeal for your help to defend against the ATO small business bully.
We’re asking you to contribute to the legal defence fund for Richard Boyle, the ATO whistleblower. We consider Richard a hero for democracy. He exposed the truth about ATO abuse at great personal risk to himself and his family. We must support Richard.
Richard is facing a staggering 161 years in jail under ATO prosecution. Mass murderers don’t face this. It demonstrates the vindictiveness of the ATO.
Richard provided key evidence in the Four Corners exposé ‘Mongrel Bunch of Bastards’, which aired last year. The program triggered a tsunami of media, parliamentary and official reports that continued throughout 2018 and into this year—all confirming the ATO’s bullying behaviour.
The facts of Richard’s situation are as follows:
- He worked for the ATO for some 13 years specialising in the debt-collection area. That’s the area where the ATO can take money from your bank account without your permission or knowledge. The ATO can do this if they think you owe money. No proof needed!
- Richard witnessed the ATO undertaking aggressive and dubious processes to grab money.
- He lodged an official, internal ATO report on this. He was told to shut up and ignore the ATO’s bad behaviour.
- Richard then lodged an official report to the ATO investigator, the Inspector-General of Taxation and told his story on Four Corners.
- The ATO raided his house and sacked him.
- Now the ATO is prosecuting Richard.
- The official Inspector-General’s Report confirmed Richard’s allegations of ATO misbehaviour as did several other official reports.
The ATO has a river of money to fund its prosecution of Richard. Richard is unemployed.
There are times when we must stand together. Otherwise democracy and the rule of law mean nothing. Richard is a hero. We need to stand with heroes. Richard deserves to have the funds to conduct a proper legal defence. That’s the least that we can do. Please give.
It doesn’t matter how small your contribution. But please give what you can afford.