Huge Centrelink fraud

A PENCHANT for Tupperware and Nutrimetics helped land a woman in court for fraud amounting to $131,318.80 for dishonestly claiming a Services Australia parent payment and carer payment over more than six years.

Angelique Lorraine Ward, who sobbed as she sat in the dock with her father and a son present, was sentenced in Cairns District Court to three years in prison, to be suspended after six months, with probation.

Commonwealth prosecutor Dominik Wiadroski said the first offence of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage to parenting payments was from February 2012 to June 2016.

A second charge of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage to carer payments to which she was not entitled was from February 2016 to 2018.

Ward did not disclose she was living with her partner and supplied fraudulent rent certificates and other information.

Investigations began following a tip-off in June 2017, Mr Wiadroski said.

He said much of the expenditure of the money was not considered needs based.

Mr Wiadroski said $51,000 cash was withdrawn, $3500 was spent on flights and accommodation, $4000 at licensed venues, $12,700 on Nutrimetics, $5100 on Tupperware and money on jewellery.

“That’s a lot of plastic,” Judge Paul Smith commented in relation to the Tupperware.

Mr Wiadroski said $1049.70 had been repaid.

Defence barrister Brydie

Bilic said her client advised she had paid $15,000 back but Judge Smith said as she stated she had been paying $170 a week for six months, that didn’t tally.

“There’s the issue of hardship to your dependants, (but) it’s just too serious not to send you to jail,” Judge Smith said.

“The social security system depends on the honesty of applicants and fraud undermines the integrity of the social security system, and all taxpayers are prejudiced by this behaviour. “Also there’s an issue about whether this was need or greed … there is some expenditure on lifestyle.”

Judge Smith ordered Ms Ward’s direct release after six months, with two years’ probation and three years’ good behaviour, and that she repay all the money.