Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au

Aaron Bunch
Qld farmers face $20m govt fraud charges

Two Queensland farmers will face court for allegedly ripping off more than $20 million from the state government’s irrigation scheme.

August 28, 2018

Two farmers have been charged with allegedly defrauding a Queensland government irrigation scheme of more than $20 million.

It is alleged the 43-year-old owner and director of a farming business located at Toobeah, in the state’s south-west, submitted fraudulent claims between 2010 and 2017 to six projects managed by the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy.

The claims related to the Healthy Head Waters Water Use Efficiency project, which helps Queensland’s Murray-Darling Basin irrigation communities deal with climate change and reduced water availability.

Major and Organised Crime Squad Detective Inspector Mick Dowie said the year-long investigation was one of the most complex the department had handled and involved thousands of modified and false documents.

“We’ll allege claims were made or invoices were modified that were actually for farming, as opposed to doing the work, and that they were modified to suit the needs of the claim,” he told reporters.

“We’ll also allege there were basically purely fabricated claims for use of machinery owned by the company to fulfil the needs of the project claims when that didn’t occur at all.”

Det Insp Dowie said some contractors were aware their invoices were being modified but had co-operated with investigators and none would be arrested.

He said the investigation was ongoing and warned farmers to not fraudulently take advantage of irrigation and drought related-funding.

The owner was charged on Tuesday by the Toowoomba Major and Organised Crime Squad (Rural) with six counts of aggravated fraud and six counts of fraudulently producing or using a false record.

A 53-year-old employee of the farming business was also charged with four counts each of the same charges for allegedly helping to lodge the claims after he started working there in 2013.

Both men will face the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday afternoon.

Police said they will oppose bail due to the large sum of money involved.

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