$16,000 cheat avoids prison

A CENTRELINK employee has been convicted in a Hobart court of receiving more than $16,000 worth of overpayments from social security.

Angela Sue Butler, 34, was handed a suspended jail term in the Hobart Magistrates Court yesterday after pleading guilty to obtaining a financial advantage by deception.

The single mother held two jobs while also receiving a variety of welfare payments from December 2013 to November 2016, the court heard.

Magistrate Chris Webster said Butler made 70 false declarations to the Department of Social Security over the period, resulting in her receiving $16,149.14 in excess of what she was entitled.

He said the “criminal conduct was calculated”.

“The wrongdoing was detected by an internal review by the relevant department and not by a gush of honesty or remorse by the defendant,” he said.

Magistrate Webster noted that Butler had paid back about $5000, and that she had a good work record.

“She is entitled to full credit for previous good behaviour and a plea of guilty,” he said.

But he said social security fraud was a serious matter and a deterrent sentence was necessary.

“Offences of this type undermine confidence in the social security system in this country.”

During the period of the offending, Butler worked parttime for Anglicare and as a casual employee with the Department of Health and Human Services.

She is currently employed with Centrelink.

As well as ordering Butler to pay back the excess social security payments, Magistrate Webster sentenced her to six months’ suspended jail term.