Guide to the Records relating to the Greek conspiracy case, 1978-1986
Collection context
Summary
- Collection number:
- MS 8014
- Creator:
- Thomas Erwin Moss
- Extent:
- 23 metres and (58 boxes)
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
- Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Records relating to the Greek conspiracy case, National Library of Australia, MS 8014, [series/file number]'.
- Availability:
- Available
- Access conditions:
- Access partly closed.
Background
- Content Summary:
-
The records in this collection relate to the Social Security Case which became known as the 'Greek Conspiracy' Case.
In April 1978, 181 members of the Greek community in Sydney were arrested and charged by the Commonwealth Police with defrauding the Commonwealth Department of Social Security by making false claims for sickness benefits and/or invalid pensions. Committal hearings were held on the New South Wales Court of Petty Sessions.
Over a period of four years, from 1978-1982, some 220 witnesses gave evidence, and thousands of documents were exhibited. As time went on, the charges were gradually withdrawn until 7 June 1982, Magistrate Bruce Brown, who had conducted the hearings throughout, had discharged all but four of those initially charged. The remaining four, all medical practitioners, were subsequently discharged. One of these, Dr Thomas Erwin Moss, owned the records in this collection.
This monumental case has become a land-mark in Australian legal cases and ranks amongst the famous cases in legal history. The cost to the Commonwealth has been estimated at $7,500,000. Throughout its progress and since its conclusion it has received much publicity and has been the subject of books, a screenplay, a documentary film, and a stage play.
The collection includes copies of Transcripts of Evidence, Briefs, Crown Submissions, Medical Records, Patients' Files, Records of Court Exhibits, and other material.
- Arrangement:
-
Most of the records are in typescript and are stored in large ring-bound files of approximately 300 pages per file, put together progressively over the period of the hearings by Counsel and Defendant. Other segments such as Patients' records appear in files as kept when held by defendants. The files are in 52 boxes (mostly cartons).
Indexed terms
- Names:
- Thomas Erwin Moss
Access and use
- Conditions Governing Access:
- Series 7, 8 and 9 are closed.
- Conditions Governing Use:
- Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
- Preferred citation:
- Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Records relating to the Greek conspiracy case, National Library of Australia, MS 8014, [series/file number]'.
- Location of this collection:
-
Parkes PlaceCanberra ACT 2600, Australia
- Contact: