Gold Coast (2), 15 October 2026
| Date | 15 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Charges | Charge 1 – Section 533 WCRA – Fraud Charges 2 – 6 – Section 534 WCRA – False or misleading information |
| Court | Magistrate Kissick, Southport Magistrates Court |
| Plea | Guilty |
| Case | Defendant commenced work shortly after lodging a claim for compensation and failed to notify WorkCover. The work was casual and ended after about 3 months. About 3 months later, he again commenced work, this time on a more full-time basis, and failed to notify WorkCover. Throughout his claim, he also provided WorkCover and registered persons with false or misleading information, including on one occasion providing a falsified medical certificate. |
| Facts | The defendant made a claim for workers’ compensation for a back injury sustained while working. Within the first few weeks of making the claim, the defendant commenced working in another job and did not notify WorkCover of that work. The defendant also provided false information about his work status and capacity. The work was performed on a casual basis and ended about 3 months into the claim. About 3 months after that, the defendant commenced work with another organisation and again failed to notify WorkCover. This work was on a more full-time basis. The defendant again provided WorkCover with false or misleading information about his work status and capacity, including by providing a falsified medical certificate. WorkCover identified discrepancies in the certificate and conducted further investigations, resulting in the closure of the defendant’s claim within a few weeks. In August 2025, the defendant was charged with defrauding WorkCover of $46,485.48 and 5 counts of providing false or misleading information to WorkCover. The defendant was sentenced on 15 October 2026, following pleas of guilty to all charges. |
| Penalty | In relation to the fraud charge, the defendant was sentenced to 15 months wholly suspended for an operational period of 3 years. In relation to 4 of the false or misleading information charges, the defendant was sentenced to sentences of 3 months imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of 6 months. Each suspended sentence was to run concurrently. On the final false or misleading charge, which related to the falsified medical certificate, the defendant was sentenced to perform 240 hours of unpaid community service within 12 months. |
| Restitution | $43,471.03 (noting $3,014.45 had already been repaid at the time of sentence) |
| Costs | $3,775.80 |
| Common Law rights extinguished? | Yes |
| Conviction | Recorded |
| Consideration for Prevention | Workers must notify the insurer of any work undertaken while receiving compensation and must not provide insurers or other persons involved in their claim with false or misleading information. Failing to notify insurers of work and lying to insurers in relation to a compensation claim may result in criminal prosecution, imprisonment, and orders to repay compensation received. |