Cheating Centrelink is cheating the tax paying public. If this woman defrauded $17,500 why was she ordered to pay back only $15,220 ? I think her excuse for her theft was pitiful and unbelievable and the fine should have been steeper.

Politicians too should have to pay huge fines when they claim false expenses. That might make the greedy ratbags think twice about thieving from the public purse.

As previously mentioned,  she did not cheat centerlink, she cheated the tax payer and broke the law. Recently the speaker of the house did much the same thing,  did she get to even see a court room?  No no no, the precedence has been set many times by these hardworking ratbags we refer to as politicians. 

Nothing but corruption at the top,  it has to filter  down and when it does,  this is the result. 

Sounds like a language barrier to me. I often get phone calls where the Asian caller asks for Fiona. After many of these calls I realised they were asking for the owner. :(

They should deport her to where she came from .... she steals $17,500 and only has to repay $15,220 what sort of Justice System do we have ??? .... the judge in concern should also be sacked. The judge is not paying the money from his pocket but from the taxpayer.

Come on now get real . We pay these judges a lot of money because they know what is right.

Yeah Right!

Although the article says she defrauded Centrelink of $17,500, it is highly likely this is just sloppy reporting, and negligence in checking facts.

It is more probable that the actual fraud is only $15,220, and that she was able to legitimately claim the other $2280 in Newstart benefits.

I am not defending fraud by any stretch, and all Centrelink cheats would be gaoled if I had my way.  Of course we would need massive new gaols to hold them all.

However, you weren't there on the day, you do not know the facts of the case, and your blatant racism is highly offensive.  Bogan Aussies get away with far more than this woman.

She should lose her political seat in Victoria, pay the fine and go to jail, and don't pass "Go", either. The rest of the family should be deported to Vietnam, the house sold, and the proceeds donated to the RSL.

Vietnamese neighbours all worked long hours to pay off 3 houses. First for the parents, then oldest son, then young son. So, the cultural view that each house belongs to everyone is probably correct. Not so sure she didn't know what she was doing, but at least she has to repay

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Sentence her to 12 months hard labour as a Centrelink Call Centre operator.

Why are you all surprised ? I've just turned 60, have not been able to keep a job for 2 years in hospitality, in which I have worked 35 years of my life, therefor I'm on Newstart, Centerlink or there employment agencies are of no assistance at all, they just dismiss you because you are old! And if I do find a job, as soon as employer feel comfortable they want to pay you cash in hand to avoid super, of course it will be at least $5 less an hour. 

Now I believe this is not legal, and am very surprised they get away with it. 

And yes the cash in hand workers are women of all walk of life not backpackers or overseas students. They are Centerlink claimers, or wives who work for their caprices without having to increase their husbands tax bracket. Therfor I think by the time I get to pension age I will be will accustomed to be a very low income person.

oh yeh! And when I did have a full time job my super was not paid for a year,  and reporting it has not done any good either, been waiting for results from the tax office for 3 years.

So if you are honest where do you go ?

Lisa, You make some very good points. I think employees should have an option to get their super paid weekly, fortnightly or monthly with the rest of their pay. 

Peter Reith defrauded the govt of 30 grand and was not even charged. He paid it back and was rewarded by Howard with a plum job in the UK so he could retire from politics. Abbott rorted 10 grand and he paid it back while Slipper got charged for 900 bucks rort when he was a liberal. When he became speaker Ashbygate emerged and the charge ensued and now the AFP are investigating Brough and Ashby. If Slipper had remained a liberal he would never have been charged and Ashby would not have been wooed by Pyne and Brough.

A fish starts to rot from the head down is the saying ? The list goes on and on. Remember Howards brother and the govt bail out for business ? I would get RSI if I typed out all the rorts and cheating by all party hacks.

So what  are you saying? Are you saying because they have cheated,it's okey dokey for others to cheat and rort the system?