Winemaker’s $6m hangover

A BANKRUPT ex-winemaker facing charges for allegedly stealing $6 million from the taxman interstate has fronted a Hobart court over related matters.

Andrew Morton Garrett, 61, appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court yesterday to face four charges of giving false information.

Mr Garrett is known for previously making his fortune with Andrew Garrett Wines in the 1980s, but he sold the business and naming rights in the mid-1990s.

In Adelaide, he pleaded not guilty to one count of attempting to dishonestly obtain a financial advantage.

Documents filed in Adelaide alleged Mr Garrett attempted to obtain the multimillion-dollar financial advantage from the Australian Taxation Office by flouting GST rules.

Mr Garrett allegedly falsely claimed $6 million in tax credits in 2017, to which he was not entitled, through his “urban wineries” concept. The idea saw blast-frozen grapes turned into “premium wines” to be drunk on-site or at customers’ home.

Mr Garrett’s Hobart matter was listed for plea yesterday, but he did not enter one because he did not have a lawyer.

“I’m a bit confused because I’m supposed to be represented by a lawyer and I don’t want to take any steps without a lawyer, especially with such serious charges,” he told the court.

The court heard the Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania had withdrawn his previously approved funding and Mr Garrett had appealed that decision.

The particulars of the charges are not known, but Mr Garrett said in court “this matter is hopelessly intertwined with the Adelaide matter”.

Chief Magistrate Catherine Geason adjourned the matter until November 17 so the Legal Aid funding review process could be completed.