Senator queries fraud rap

A ONE Nation Senator wants Queensland’s police minister to intervene in the prosecution of a Cairns health worker who has allegedly embellished his military record.

Clifton Beach resident Ross Russo, 52, is due to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on March 6 after he was charged with one count of fraud.

Police allege Mr Russo, who is an operations supervisor at Mareeba Hospital, has falsified his defence service history.

Mr Russo was initially outed online by the Australian and New Zealand Military Impostors group (ANZMI).

In a letter obtained by the Cairns Post, NSW One Nation Senator Brian Burston has written to Police Minister Mark Ryan demanding he investigate the circumstances of Mr Russo’s arrest.

The Newcastle-based Sena- tor, who has previously criticised ANZMI in the senate, said he had “grave concerns for the perversion of justice” he feared may be in the Queensland Police Service, as a result of Mr Russo’s recent arrest.

Mr Burston said he had visited Mr Russo in Cairns only two days before he was arrested and questioned whether police had acted on a complaint from Queensland Health or its own officers.

One Nation’s chief-of-staff James Ashby confirmed the Senator’s Far Northern sojourn was within parliamentary rules.

“Senator Burston is responsible for Defence Force matters within the party and travels sparingly to meet those obligations, but always within parliamentary rules,” he said.

A spokeswoman for the police minister said it would be inappropriate for Mr Ryan to comment as Mr Russo’s case was a matter before the court.