Maroochydore, 4 March 2026

• Charge 1 – Section 5331 Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (WCRA) – Fraud
• Charge 2 – Section 533 WCRA – Attempted Fraud

Defendant was a FIFO worker in Mount Isa who suffered an injury. He made a claim for compensation which was accepted and he was certified fit for light duties.

The defendant lived on the Sunshine Coast and his employer arranged suitable duties, including paying for his accommodation, in Brisbane.

The defendant attended the suitable duties for two days and then stopped going. However, he continued to make claims to WorkCover for reimbursement of travel and accommodation.

The defendant made 33 false claims in total. Of those, 23 were accepted and the defendant was reimbursed the sum of $4,560.08. WorkCover then became aware that the employer was likely paying for the accommodation, so stopped reimbursing him.

The 10 claims not reimbursed had an expected value of $1,867.00.

Over the period of the offending, the defendant continuously contacted WorkCover to follow up reimbursement.

When confronted by his employer and by WorkCover, the defendant made admissions but sought to place some of the blame for his conduct on alleged frustrations with his employer.

• 3 months imprisonment on each charge, to be wholly suspended for 12 months and run concurrently.