Government employee charged over spending public money for personal travel
Date published
May 2025
Relevant impacts: Government outcomes impact, Reputational impact, Security impact, Financial Impact.
A government employee has been charged with allegedly using public money to pay for personal travel over a 14-month period.
The AFP have alleged that the employee used public funds to pay for multiple flights and accommodation in connection with 4 personal trips oversees, costing $49,000. It’s also alleged she used a falsified visa letter to support her claim that she was travelling for work and arranged a false document for a foreign national to obtain a visa for entry into Australia.
She appeared before Downing Centre Local Court after an AFP investigation, charged with:
- one count of dishonestly obtaining a gain from a Commonwealth entity, contrary to section 135.1(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth)
- one count of abuse of public office, contrary to section 142.2(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth)
- one count of delivering a document that is false or misleading to a material particular in connexion with the proposed entry of a non-citizen into Australia with an application for a visa, contrary to section 234(1)(c) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth).
Related fraudster personas
Related countermeasures
Establish governance, accountability and oversight of processes by using delegations and requiring committees and project boards to oversee critical decisions and risk. Good governance, accountability and oversight increases transparency and reduces the opportunity for fraud.
Assess the integrity of new employees, contractors or third parties such as by having entry level checks, probationary periods, suitability assessments or security vetting.
Rotate staff and contractors in and out of roles to avoid familiarity. Staff and contractors can become too familiar with processes, customers or vendors, which can lead to insider threats.
Develop clear instructions and guidance for activities and processes, such as instructions for collecting the right information to verify eligibility or entitlements, procedures to help staff apply consistent and correct processes and guidance to help staff make correct and ethical decisions.
Verify any requests or claim information you receive with an independent and credible source.
Put in place processes for staff or external parties to lodge tip-offs or Public Interest Disclosures.
Report on incidents or breaches to help identify if further investigation is required. Clients, public officials or contractors can take advantage of a lack of reporting and transparency to commit fraud, act corruptly and avoid exposure.
Investigate fraud in line with the Australian Government Investigation Standards (AGIS).
These are processes for ending an individual’s or entity’s engagement or involvement with an organisation or program.
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