New data from the Insurance Council of Australia has revealed the latest stats around car theft, as well as a growing black market propped up by sanctions.
Organised crime groups are reportedly stealing Australian cars and stripping them down to sell off the parts in Iran and Russia.
Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says there's a sophisticated network behind these growing cases, with many of these thefts happening in Victoria.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Australia correspondent with us now. Hey, Ollie.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
G'day, Heather.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hey, what? Are you serious that people are nicking cars
in Australia to sell the parts to Iran and Russia?
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Well, that's what we're hearing from the Insurance Council today.
And I find this staggering, to be perfectly honest, because
when I thought somebody was stealing a car, they were
doing that because they needed to get to their next destination.
Turns out that tens of thousands of death claims are
now pointing to the fact that parts are being sold
(00:30):
and then exported into places like Iran and Russia, as
you just said there. So The insurers are starting to
warn us that organised criminals are now stealing our cars
specifically to strip them for parts. It's obviously a sophisticated
network that's behind this, Heather, and it probably won't come
as any big surprise to you, but Victoria and Melbourne
is where most of the cars are being stolen at
the moment. Then obviously New South Wales, Queensland, over here
(00:52):
in WA, there's not as many cars being stolen, but
you just look at the population. But it obviously also
raises the question, how do these parts then get through
our export and customs systems?
Speaker 1 (01:03):
And what are they doing on the other side? Is
it just for your civilian cars or is it for
military things?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well, that's what we don't know. But you would sort
of join the dots here, right? If they're going to countries,
like you say, in terms of Iran and Russia, then
what are these parts in these cars being used for?
And I think your suggestion there on the military idea
is one that I thought about as well. Interesting.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Now, what's the problem in Adelaide with LIV?
Speaker 2 (01:29):
What's the problem is I think the South Australian government
might be in la-la land here, Heather, because obviously we
know what's going on with Liv and the South Australian
government saying, oh, no, no, no, no, no, everything's fine, right?
We're having this 2027 event because taxpayers aren't exposed under
the existing arrangements. Hello? They've just filed for bankruptcy, Chapter
11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S., and obviously those liabilities
(01:53):
are now ranging from $ 500 million to $ 1 billion U.S.,
So if the players are getting paid here, though, do
you really think the South Australian government's going to get
their lick in this? I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
No, I think you might well be right. Hey, what's
going on with Qantas feeding the Rams?
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Now, I like this. I don't know about you, but
I would think if you're coming out to play gridiron
in Melbourne this weekend, then you'd want all of those
bells and whistles on your aircraft. Like, I've always thought,
you know how you've got to just... I don't know
about you, Heather, you probably sit at the front, but
when I'm sitting down in the back and I just
get offered beef or fish, I'm thinking, you know, I'd
really like to be able to order my own food
here on the aircraft or get something I want. So Qantas,
(02:33):
ever the publicity machine that it is, and well done
to them, they have decided that they will be providing
the rams with cheeseburgers and the like. They've obviously now
finally arrived here in Australia. They were a little funny
about the idea that they were going to be given
these different, you know, guinea pigs and test pattern travels.
but they've really curated the menu here for the Rams
players coming into Australia. So cheeseburgers, if they were a hit,
(02:56):
they've arrived much earlier than usual. It's a new kind
of strategy, as I said, when you sleep, when you
wake up. Qantas, obviously, using it as a bit of
a test case as well to just remind everybody they're
soon going to have that aircraft that'll be able to
fly from Sydney to New York nonstop. I think they're
going via Auckland, aren't they, at some stage as well?
They're trying to get that new aircraft. Are you getting that?
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Yeah, why not? If I'm going to have a cheeseburger,
I'll love it. Ollie, look after yourself, mate, as always.
It's good to talk to you. Ollie Peterson, who is
the ABC Perth Drive presenter, 17 away from five.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
For more from Heather Duplessy-Allen Drive, listen live to Newstalk
ZB from 4pm weekdays or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Australia correspondent with us now. Hey, Ollie.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
G'day, Heather.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hey, what? Are you serious that people are nicking cars
in Australia to sell the parts to Iran and Russia?
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Well, that's what we're hearing from the Insurance Council today.
And I find this staggering, to be perfectly honest, because
when I thought somebody was stealing a car, they were
doing that because they needed to get to their next destination.
Turns out that tens of thousands of death claims are
now pointing to the fact that parts are being sold
(00:30):
and then exported into places like Iran and Russia, as
you just said there. So The insurers are starting to
warn us that organised criminals are now stealing our cars
specifically to strip them for parts. It's obviously a sophisticated
network that's behind this, Heather, and it probably won't come
as any big surprise to you, but Victoria and Melbourne
is where most of the cars are being stolen at
the moment. Then obviously New South Wales, Queensland, over here
(00:52):
in WA, there's not as many cars being stolen, but
you just look at the population. But it obviously also
raises the question, how do these parts then get through
our export and customs systems?
Speaker 1 (01:03):
And what are they doing on the other side? Is
it just for your civilian cars or is it for
military things?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well, that's what we don't know. But you would sort
of join the dots here, right? If they're going to countries,
like you say, in terms of Iran and Russia, then
what are these parts in these cars being used for?
And I think your suggestion there on the military idea
is one that I thought about as well. Interesting.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Now, what's the problem in Adelaide with LIV?
Speaker 2 (01:29):
What's the problem is I think the South Australian government
might be in la-la land here, Heather, because obviously we
know what's going on with Liv and the South Australian
government saying, oh, no, no, no, no, no, everything's fine, right?
We're having this 2027 event because taxpayers aren't exposed under
the existing arrangements. Hello? They've just filed for bankruptcy, Chapter
11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S., and obviously those liabilities
(01:53):
are now ranging from $ 500 million to $ 1 billion U.S.,
So if the players are getting paid here, though, do
you really think the South Australian government's going to get
their lick in this? I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
No, I think you might well be right. Hey, what's
going on with Qantas feeding the Rams?
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Now, I like this. I don't know about you, but
I would think if you're coming out to play gridiron
in Melbourne this weekend, then you'd want all of those
bells and whistles on your aircraft. Like, I've always thought,
you know how you've got to just... I don't know
about you, Heather, you probably sit at the front, but
when I'm sitting down in the back and I just
get offered beef or fish, I'm thinking, you know, I'd
really like to be able to order my own food
here on the aircraft or get something I want. So Qantas,
(02:33):
ever the publicity machine that it is, and well done
to them, they have decided that they will be providing
the rams with cheeseburgers and the like. They've obviously now
finally arrived here in Australia. They were a little funny
about the idea that they were going to be given
these different, you know, guinea pigs and test pattern travels.
but they've really curated the menu here for the Rams
players coming into Australia. So cheeseburgers, if they were a hit,
(02:56):
they've arrived much earlier than usual. It's a new kind
of strategy, as I said, when you sleep, when you
wake up. Qantas, obviously, using it as a bit of
a test case as well to just remind everybody they're
soon going to have that aircraft that'll be able to
fly from Sydney to New York nonstop. I think they're
going via Auckland, aren't they, at some stage as well?
They're trying to get that new aircraft. Are you getting that?
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Yeah, why not? If I'm going to have a cheeseburger,
I'll love it. Ollie, look after yourself, mate, as always.
It's good to talk to you. Ollie Peterson, who is
the ABC Perth Drive presenter, 17 away from five.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
For more from Heather Duplessy-Allen Drive, listen live to Newstalk
ZB from 4pm weekdays or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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