A Tasmanian man has avoided a term of imprisonment after claiming almost $110,000 in Centrelink payments that he was not entitled to receive.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tristan Quinn, 39, was last week sentenced in the Hobart Supreme Court for stealing $109,053 from the Commonwealth between 2012 and 2019.
The court heard Quinn had significantly under-reported his income to Centrelink electronically and in-person on 178 occasions.
In sentencing, Justice Stephen Escourt said in all but two of the 178 fortnights subject to the charge, the defendant was not entitled to receive any payment of benefit.
"Over the period of the charge the defendant declared approximately 10 per cent of his gross income to Centrelink," he said.
"The offending was detected by data matching.
"He continued offending after receiving a notice of overpayment."
Mr Estcourt said Quinn had relevant prior convictions and the Crown had submitted that an immediate term of imprisonment was the most appropriate penalty for the recent theft and to promote general deterrence.
The maximum penalty for the offence is imprisonment for 10 years and a fine of $66,000.
Mr Estcourt took into account Quinn's guilty plea to the crime last year and imposed a home detention order for a maximum of 18 months.
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
