Banking Royal Commission: Nonno Says He Always Knew The Banks They No Good

CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT

“You laugh. But who laugh know?” says 86-year-old Sal Carbone.

“I always knew”

With almost daily revelations coming from the banking royal commission about the severe misconduct of Australia’s big 4 banks and other major financial institutions, the retired house painter says you all laughed at him, but guess what?

“What I say?” he says.

This isn’t the first time Nonno has been given justification for his habit of burying cash in his backyard, under the fig tree and in the rose garden, for half a century.

Last year, it was the ATO scandal regarding former Deputy Tax Commissioner Michael Cranston, who was allegedly heard in intercepted phone calls, warning his son Adam that he was at “high risk” as investigators prepared to make arrests in a major tax fraud investigation.

Cranston, who has since resigned from his position was believed to have been implicated in his son’s alleged payroll fraud worth $144 million. That didn’t surprise Nonno either.

“They’re all crooks” says Nonno.

“Banks, tax man. All crooks. That’s why I don’t go near either”

However, as the retired Snowy-River era migrant grows older and and becomes even more intent on not listening to his wife, Nonno says his biggest problem now is remembering where all his savings are located in the 20 square feet of soil in his half acre backyard.