Bill Papas, the man at the centre of almost $400 million of fraud allegations from major Australian and global banks, claims he has been suffering from “extreme anxiety and panic attacks” since Westpac launched its case against him, The Australian Financial Review (AFR) reports.

In one of three affidavits filed with the Federal Court on Wednesday, Mr Papas apologised for missing multiple court deadlines that he said was “due to health issues principally around contracting SARS-COVID-19… where I suffered symptoms of extreme exhaustion and fever.”

“I have also been suffering from extreme anxiety and panic attacks since being served with court documents by [Westpac]. It has made it extremely difficult for me to attend to things required of me,” Mr Papas says in an affidavit, according to the AFR.

READ MORE: Alleged fraudster Bill Papas spotted in Thessaloniki.

“I have been obtaining regular treatment from a health practitioner for the past three years in Sydney for anxiety and depression, but as I am in Greece I have been unable to obtain treatment.

“Until recently, I have been alone in Greece and in isolation, which has been extremely difficult for me and my mental and physical health.”

Mr Papas’ solicitor told the court in the first week of July that he had booked a Japan Airways flight to return to Australia to face fraud allegations, but ultimately never boarded this flight. Instead, Mr Papas’ girlfriend, Louise Agostino, joined him in Thessaloniki.

READ MORE: Sydney tycoon, Bill Papas, returning to Australia following Westpac fraud allegations.

“Since her arrival my health has improved,” Mr Papas said.

The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) reports that the affidavits also detail a list of Mr Papas’ assets, which include three jet skis and a camper trailer each worth $15,000 and held at his multimillion dollar property in Wagstaffe on the NSW Central Coast, as well as $206,000 cash held in a NAB bank account.

READ MORE: Westpac slams Bill Papas evidence, Sydney tycoon pleads for cash to fly to Australia.

The Forum Group boss claims the value of seven companies he holds shares in is nothing, two other shareholdings are worth $50 each, and another business can’t be valued because he doesn’t have access to records.

Mr Papas’ lawyers originally sought to have his affidavits banned from publication but later withdrew this application.

The documents detail the first public statements made by Mr Papas since he went to ground following Westpac’s initial inquiries in mid-June about loans they suspected were fraudulent.

READ MORE: Liquidators appointed to Bill Papas’ troubled Forum group of companies.

Source: The Australian Financial Review and The Sydney Morning Herald.

West Adelaide Hellas Soccer Club (SC) has responded to a federal safety audit which deemed its Kilburn stadium ‘unsafe’. 

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport audit found several cases of tripping hazards, as well as “high risk” inadequate construction. 

West Adelaide Hellas SC President Alexandros Alexandrou says most of the safety issues addressed by the audit were sorted within 48 hours. 

“There’s two pitches there [at the Kilburn stadium]. We can’t use the main pitch at the moment but we’re awaiting confirmation so we can start using it again. As far as completing the projects so we can start playing there again, we’re exploring some other avenues but we’ve been inundated with donations of trades and products, from paints to electrical stuff, so we can move ahead and finish it off,” Mr. Alexandrou tells the Greek Herald. 

“With a project like this, there’s always defects. They are being addressed and being actioned upon by the people that did the work. It’s all standard stuff.” 

West Adelaide Hellas Soccer Club released a statement hours later: 

“The West Adelaide Hellas Soccer Club has a long and proud history of the development of the game at both a state and national level. The club provides a safe and inclusive environment for over 500 junior boys and girls, senior men and women, and amateur players. Since 2014, we have embarked on a club-defining project to establish the Kilburn Sportsplex, for the benefit of West Adelaide Hellas and the wider community at large.

Through the State Government and Football South Australia, $4.8 million has been provided towards building the Sportsplex. As of July 2021, the total spend is $5.34 million, along with a further $500,000 of in-kind club contributions. Since construction commenced in 2017, the club has contributed in excess of $1 million in cash and in-kind contributions. To date the club has delivered, albeit an incomplete facility valued in excess of $12 million.

A recent safety audit conducted outlined issues that were raised with the club and were addressed and completed within 48 hours of notification from the Office of Recreation and Sport. All elements of the Sportsplex have been constructed in accordance with the approved documentation and all relevant structural inspections of the works have taken place, and approved by all relevant government instrumentalities, including the Port Adelaide Enfield Council and the Development Assessment Commission.

The volunteers of this club are committed to working with the Hon Corey Wingard MP, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, and all government agencies to deliver on its commitment and complete the Kilburn Sportsplex to a match-ready standard.” 

Source: The Advertiser 

Greek Australian hospitality figures in New South Wales are calling for the state government to exempt fully-vaccinated patrons from restrictions. 

Sydney Restaurant Group owner Bill Drakopoulos says allowing double-dosed patrons back into restaurants would be great if it meant the hospitality industry could reopen. 

“If the government were to say you’re only welcoming vaccinated people, and that means you can open in early September, something like that, fantastic,” he tells the Daily Telegraph. 

“If that was a way to get our workforce back, dust the cobwebs off our chairs and tables, get trading again, not rely on government handouts to live from week to week … we’ll do that with open arms.”

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the state government is keen to explore different incentives. 

“In particular, we know that people value their freedom, their desire to go back to work, their desire to engage in community life. And those are the type of incentives that will be looking at over the next ­little while to provide our citizens with the opportunities to know, that if they’re vaccinated and their loved ones are vaccinated, there will be ­opportunities for greater freedom moving forward,” Berejiklian has said. 

ClubsNSW and Australia chief executive Josh Landis says the incentive will help save the hospitality industry from the economic downturn brought on by lockdown. 

“We think anyone who does the right thing and gets vaccinated should be ­allowed to enjoy some of life’s usual freedoms once again, such as enjoying themselves at their local club,” Landis tells the Daily Telegraph. 

Landis has also called on the state government to set a vaccination target and for the federal government to support the initiative by waiving the excise on any beers poured on “freedom day”. 

Source: Daily Telegraph 

The NSW Teachers Federation (NSWTF) has responded to the updated vaccination priority of Year 12 students to help schools return to in-classroom learning. 

NSWTF President Angelo Gavrielatos says Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s plan is coming too soon an will put the safety of students and teachers at risk. 

“These are very, very difficult and concerning times and we certainly believe that the announcement made by the premier last week was premature, particularly when you consider the caseload, more than 200 each day over the last three days, and more worrying still, less than half of that in isolation during their entire infectious period,” Mr Gavrielatos told the Today show.

He says schools were very similar to large worksites, with hundreds of people closely interacting. 

“We want our students back to face-to-face teaching and learning. We want them back but we want them back when it is safe to do so,” he said.

When Ms Berejiklian announced the staggered return of face-to-face schooling on April 21 last year, the number of daily cases in the community was around five, making it a very different situation even before the Delta variant came into play, Mr Gavrielatos said.

“This is the Delta strain, it is highly contagious and highly transmissible. We must put the health and safety of students, their teachers and families first.”

Announcing the plan for Year 12 students to return last week, Ms Berejiklian said students would be given rapid antigen testing to catch any cases of COVID-19, and those living or studying in hotspot areas would be prioritised for the Pfizer vaccine.

“We don’t want students coming to face-to-face learning, getting the virus and taking it home to their families, that’s why we will start a vaccination program,” she said.

Source: 9 News