Three set to face drought fraud trial
THREE members of a northwest Queensland farming family are set to face trial over allegations that more than $100,000 was illegally claimed through the state government’s drought relief scheme.
Three women in the Viney family were charged by police after a complaint from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries sparked an extensive yearslong police investigation in July 2016.
Debra Grace Viney, 59, was charged in May 2019 as the primary offender and faces five criminal charges, including two counts of fraud and attempted fraud exceeding the value of $30,000 and a single count of attempted fraud.
Police hit her with an extra charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice in January last year.
Her sister, Chanelle Vanessa Viney, 46, was charged in October 2019 and faces one count each of fraud exceeding the value of $30,000 and attempted fraud.
Their mother, Frances Mary Josephene Viney, 76, was charged in January 2020 and faces a single count of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Police allege multiple false rebate claims were submitted between 2013 and 2017 under the Transport of Fodder Freight Subsidy and Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate that formed part of the state government’s Drought Relief Assistance Scheme.
A Queensland Police Service spokesman said the allegedly fraudulent claims were submitted for things including the purchase of fodder as well as the purchase of water infrastructure that was purportedly installed at the family’s Janeville cattle station, about 100km south of Prairie.
The trial is set to take place in Hughenden, but a judge has flagged concerns the population in the rural town about 380km west of Townsville was so small that the court would struggle to form an impartial jury.
Judge Gregory Lynham said just seven of the 12 required jury members were viable at a previous trial that had to be moved from the town due to the same issue.
“There is an issue that arises as to whether or not there is even the remotest feasibility of the trial being conducted (there),” Judge Lynham said when the matter was mentioned in Townsville’s District Court on Friday.
“Given the number of standbys and challenges that the parties are entitled to, the court would need to assemble at least 60 (potential) jurors.”
Hughenden had an estimated population of just over 1000 people at the 2016 census.
Major and Organised Crime Squad Rural officer Detective Senior Constable Will Gostelow said police
worked closely with the Department of Agriculture and other rural stakeholders during the years-long investigation.
“At the time of these (alleged) offences, there were a lot of people really struggling with drought and the myriad pressures that this imposes,” he said.
“Police have no tolerance for people defrauding a system that can be a potential lifeline for people on the land who are doing it tough.”
On Friday, Debra Viney’s defence barrister, Claire Grant, told the court her client was “content” for the trial to proceed in Charters Towers. This was not opposed by lawyers for the co-accused.
Solicitor Zoe Navarro, who represents Francis Mary Viney, told the court she had applied to prosecutors requesting the charge against her client be discontinued.
Judge Lynham adjourned the matter for mention on October 8 to allow the accused’s legal representatives to make an application to move the trial.
The trial is expected take place in 2022.