Wanted for fraud in Aust

Australian police have issued a warrant for Ministry of Transport fraudster Joanne Harrison’s arrest over a fraud case across the Tasman – but may have to wait until she finishes her jail-term in New Zealand.

Harrison, also known as Joanne Sharp, was jailed for three years and seven months in February after admitting she stole more than $725,000 from the Ministry of Transport.

Victorian police said they were aware Harrison was serving a prison sentence.

An extradition treaty exists between New Zealand and Australia.

New Zealand police said the extradition process ’’would normally only take place at the end of any custodial sentence’’.

Harrison was named as a fraud suspect at rural water corporation Goulburn-murray Water (GMW) in Victoria in 2011.

An Australian rural publication, the Weekly Times, said Harrison allegedly received tens of thousands of dollars in unjustified pay claims.

The new allegations prompted fresh calls for an investigation into Harrison’s activities, and into the treatment of whistleblowers at the ministry.

Labour MP Sue Moroney has called for a full investigation into how the Transport Ministry handled the case.

NZ First leader Winston Peters also called for further investigations into how whistleblowers who raised concerns about Harrison were treated.

While Harrison’s crimes publicly came to light in July 2016, she was first questioned by the ministry – which had questions about contracts she was involved with – at least as far back as May 2014.

Harrison approached the Transport Accident Investigation Commission about a ministry-funded proposal for apprentice investigators, which was initially rejected.

But when the commission and the ministry agreed to advance a project already planned, Harrison provided funding and proposed her husband – Patrick Sharp – for the 12-month contract.

The commission grew suspicious about the relationship between the pair and brought it up with the ministry.

The ministry has confirmed Harrison lied to a senior manager there when asked if she was in a relationship with Sharp – claiming that she was not, and that there was no conflict of interest.