May 11, 2022

Carer ordered to repay $108,000 to Centrelink after failing to declare income

Maroochydore nurse Karen Delores Swartz, 59, received the Centrelink assistance between January 2014 and March 2019 even though she had gained employment and was no longer entitled to the allowance.

The court heard Ms Swartz had failed to notify Centrelink of her change in employment status.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) discovered she was receiving the payments after the ATO did a data match in 2018, according to media reports.

The 59-year-old pleaded guilty to obtaining financial advantage by deception.

She was sentenced to three years in jail, but released on a five-year good behaviour recognisance. She was ordered to repay the $108,753.76 she had obtained illegally.

Ms Swartz’s defence lawyer, Mark Dixon, said his client, a nurse, had been caring for her elderly mother while she herself was suffering from depression. 

Mr Dixon said if his client had served jail time she would have had to sell her home, causing a major upheaval for her family. 

Judge Nathan Jarro described Ms Swartz’s actions as “greedy” and “deceitful” and noted she used a separate bank account for the additional income. 

Convictions have been recorded against Ms Swartz. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Government blocks disclosure on massive aged care tech upgrade as costs soar

The government has refused to hand over key documents on the 800 million dollar aged care tech overhaul, arguing it would take too long and drain resources. Critics say this excuse hides major failures and raises serious questions about transparency. Read More

Soiled beds, open sores and residents tied to chairs, regulator closes aged care facility

Residents tied to chairs, left in soiled beds and suffering untreated wounds. Years of warnings went ignored before regulators finally stepped in, exposing serious gaps in oversight. Read More

Greens Senator demands “scrap for-profit aged care and restore a Government-run system”

In an exclusive interview, Senator Penny Allman-Payne delivers a scathing assessment of Labor’s reforms, warning that co-payments are forcing seniors to skip basic care. Her solution is clear: scrap for-profit providers and renationalise aged care. Read More
Advertisement
Exit mobile version