The Canberra Times has an amusing story on Nadine Verran, 36, of Rivett’s efforts to claim that being forced to repay fraudulent Centrelink payments was punishment enough.
- When Mr Stubbs suggested his client should be entitled to some leniency because of substance abuse and other problems, Ms Doogan said Verran had failed to fulfil her responsibilities while living off the public purse.
”She gets money from other people who earn money. She didn’t earn it by sweat and toil,” she said.
Ms Doogan accepted the importance of social-security benefits for those in need, but said people receiving payments needed to be scrupulous about meeting their obligations.
She also referred to Verran’s criminal history, which included several counts of theft and failing to appear in court, and remanded her in custody for the next two weeks, after which she will be sentenced.
Remanded in custody on a fraud charge? Now that’s showing a bit of steel!