Financial planner banned from practicing after sneaking into Perth for AFL Grand Final
A Melbourne financial planner who illegally entered Perth to attend the AFL Grand Final during Western Australia’s tough COVID-19 border restrictions has been banned from practicing in his industry.
The criminal charges Mark Babbage was convicted of for his efforts to attend the grand final has led to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) banning him from providing financial services or engaging in credit activities for 10 years.
The Demons fan has also been banned from performing any function related to the the provision of credit services after he pleaded guilty to charges of gaining by fraud and three charges of breaching COVID laws in WA at the Magistrates Court of Western Australia in October.
Babbage was jailed for three months in Western Australia for the crimes, as was his friend Hayden Burbank, who is the owner of Melbourne bar and restaurant Morris Jones, who travelled with him.
The pair travelled from Melbourne to Darwin, where they falsified vehicle, rental and bank documents to then be allowed to enter Perth as tourists in time to attend the AFL Grand Final.
Crowds line Melbourne’s streets for the AFL Grand Final Parade
ASIC has today released a statement saying it is “satisfied that Mr Babbage lacks the honesty and integrity to participate in the financial services and credit industries”.
His 10-year ban began on March 11.
Mr Babbage was the director of Babbage Finance Pty Ltd until he was jailed in October.
His fraud conviction also means he is disqualified from managing corporation for five years.
