Australian fraudster seeks intervention order against Melbourne couple over disputed Vogue shoot
Josh Howlett, a convicted Australian fraudster, has applied for an intervention order against Melbourne couple Mel Matulin and Jamie Etherington, whom he accuses of making false claims and harassing him. The dispute follows allegations that Howlett hired Etherington for a supposed Vogue photo shoot and failed to pay him and other workers, prompting Matulin to warn others about her experience.
Howlett’s application, initiated on 7 October, alleges racist remarks during the shoot, posts questioning his Aboriginal identity and messages encouraging him to harm himself; the couple deny the allegations. He says he raised concerns about Etherington’s conduct and would pay him after he made amends. Matulin says she is preparing to defend the claims, with the matter due in court on 7 December; Howlett has previously admitted to multiple fraud offences, including a case involving a proposed film about basketballer Matthew Dellavedova.
- Josh Howlett has sought an intervention order against a Melbourne couple.
- The couple say he failed to pay workers for a supposed Vogue shoot.
- Both sides dispute allegations ahead of a December court hearing.
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Josh Howlett is a convicted fraudster in Australia. Mel Matulin and Jamie Etherington are a Melbourne couple; Etherington works in photography. The dispute centres on a photo shoot that Howlett presented as being for Vogue, with Etherington and other workers alleging they were not paid.
Matulin warned others about her experience, and Howlett says the couple made false claims and harassed him. The case involves competing allegations, which the couple deny. Howlett has previously admitted to several fraud offences, including one involving a proposed film about basketballer Matthew Dellavedova.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Howlett’s application deserves to be heard on its own evidence: if he received racist abuse, harassment or messages urging self-harm, seeking a court order could be a reasonable way to address conduct he considers harmful. He also says he raised concerns about the shoot and made payment conditional on Etherington making amends, so the dispute over payment and behaviour may involve competing accounts.
The case against
Matulin and Etherington deny the allegations, and their account is that Howlett failed to pay workers for a supposed Vogue shoot; Matulin says she warned others about her experience. If their claims are accurate, speaking publicly could be a legitimate effort to seek payment and protect others, while an intervention order could risk deterring people from raising concerns. The court hearing is yet to determine the disputed claims.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “‘He’s ruined lives’: Melbourne couple who accused a notorious conman Josh Howlett of dodging debts are dragged to court in bizarre new twist after botched ‘Vogue’ shoot”.