The Murdoch press has queried whether Airtasker, an Australian-based online jobs portal, has been speeding through its cash reserves somewhat faster than normal in financial quarters.

Airtasker is reportedly working on a new $20 million capital raising. This is its third such exercise in the past two years, according to an Australian newspaper report – with the total raised now almost $50 million, which the Oz describes as “significant for an unlisted company”.

According to the report, Kerry Stokes’ Seven West Media – Airtasker’s biggest shareholder – is unlikely to stump up any more cash.

Airtasker’s Web site claims it has 1.3 million users, up from 600,000 a year earlier, but Oz IT reveals the jobs on offer can be less than extravagantly paid.

Jobs on offer earlier this week included an amount of $5 to write fake Web site reviews; or $10 for delivering a kitten from Sydney’s Neutral Bay to Elizabeth Bay.