17 October, 2025
queensland-tax-investigation-uncovers-60m-scheme-linked-to-onlyfans

A significant investigation by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has revealed a potential tax fraud scheme involving a Queensland couple and their community sports business, allegedly leading to unpaid taxes exceeding $60 million. Central to this inquiry are Colin James Kinnest, 36, and his wife, Ashlee Maree Kinnest, 37, alongside 21-year-old OnlyFans creator Bridget Jean Faith Cotter.

The investigation began in early 2023 when a payment of $5,000 was made to Cotter, escalating to nearly $160,000 by late August 2024. Payments included dubious descriptions such as “birthday gift” and “helping,” with one notable transaction labeled simply as “Xoxo.” These payments have drawn scrutiny as part of a broader probe into the Kinnests’ financial activities, which involve multiple sporting facilities throughout Queensland, including the Bundaberg Indoor Sports Centre.

Investigation Details and Allegations

According to court documents, the ATO is examining a total of 18 properties linked to the Kinnests and Cotter, as well as numerous financial transactions, including a remarkable purchase of over $178,000 at Tiffany & Co. The ATO has accused the Kinnests’ companies, such as Bundaberg Indoor Sport and Kinnest Family Pty Ltd, of submitting false business activity statements, which allegedly overstated their sales and GST claims to obtain refunds they were not eligible for.

The investigation has uncovered that Cotter received a total of $220,000 from her OnlyFans activities between May 2022 and July 2025. The ATO has indicated that there was a personal or transactional relationship between Cotter and Colin Kinnest, noting that he made frequent payments to her account for various reasons, including a significant payment of $29,000 linked to “jetski.”

Financial Implications and Asset Freezing

Following these revelations, the ATO obtained freezing orders on the Kinnests’ finances, which restrict their access to funds, allowing only minimal allocations for legal and living expenses. The couple’s businesses, including their sporting facilities, have also been impacted, with their financial activities described as excessive and inconsistent with typical operations for regional sporting venues.

The ATO’s investigation has highlighted some alarming discrepancies. To justify reported sales of nearly $240,000 from Bundaberg Indoor Sports, the facility would have had to serve an implausible number of teams—over 2.9 million in netball alone. Such figures raised red flags regarding the legitimacy of the Kinnests’ business operations.

The ATO is currently examining the Kinnests’ extensive property transactions, revealing that Colin Kinnest acquired nine properties valued at a total of $5.9 million between August 2023 and August 2024. It is alleged that these transactions occurred after the ATO began its inquiries, prompting concerns that the couple may have engaged in asset concealment.

The ongoing court case continues to unfold as the ATO seeks to recover the alleged losses due to tax evasion. The implications extend beyond the couple’s business dealings, as the investigation has sparked discussions about the financial behavior of individuals associated with platforms like OnlyFans.

In response to inquiries, Cotter maintained that her interactions with Kinnest were solely professional, stating, “I’m just doing my job as I do with every other subscriber on my OnlyFans.”

The situation remains fluid, with developments likely to emerge as the ATO and the court proceed with their investigations into these serious allegations.