Brisbane, 17 September 2026

• Charge 1 – Section 533 WCRA – Fraud
• Charge 2 – Section 533 WCRA – Attempted Fraud

Magistrate Mack, Brisbane Magistrates Court

The defendant made a workers’ compensation claim for a back injury she alleged was caused by lifting heavy objects at work and received more than $74,000 in compensation from WorkCover. Following the closure of the statutory claim, the defendant lodged a Notice of Claim for Damages seeking more than $420,000 in damages arising from the same alleged injury.

In response, WorkCover commenced an investigation and obtained CCTV footage from the workplace. The footage showed that the defendant did not perform the activities she had consistently alleged caused her injury. Statements obtained from co-workers and management also indicated that the defendant’s account was not possible.

The defendant was subsequently charged with one count of fraud and one count of attempted fraud on the basis that the activity said to have caused the injury had not occurred. Additional charges of providing false or misleading information were initially laid but were later discontinued by the prosecution.

The defendant pleaded not guilty and proceeded to a three-day trial commencing on 16 June 2026. On 18 June 2026, Magistrate Mack found the defendant guilty of both the fraud and attempted fraud charges.

Ms Maxwell was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for fraud and 12 months’ imprisonment for attempted fraud, with 5 months' actual custody, an operational period of 3 years, restitution of $74,648.84 to WorkCover, and costs of $6,750 payable to the Workers’ Compensation Regulator.

$74,648.84

$6,750.00

Workers should ensure that information provided in support of a workers’ compensation or damages claim is accurate and truthful. Providing false information or pursuing a claim for an injury that did not occur may result in criminal prosecution, imprisonment, and orders to repay compensation received.