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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Sarah Martin

Owner of scandal-plagued Panthera Finance tells court it was not technically operating illegally in Victoria

Panthera Victoria Consumer Affairs Victoria
Melbourne magistrates court sign
Lawyers told the Melbourne magistrates court that Panthera could not have been a ‘prohibited person’ as alleged by the prosecution. Photograph: Chris Hopkins/The Guardian

One of Australia’s largest debt collection firms has claimed that scandal-plagued Panthera Finance was not technically banned from operating in Victoria after it was blacklisted by the state’s consumer watchdog.

Consumer Affairs Victoria launched legal action against Panthera Finance last year, alleging it operated in the state illegally after a federal court ruling in 2020, and despite warnings that doing so could amount to a criminal offence.

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