Cody Patricia Marie Roberts faces court after seeking $1400 from a North Queensland flood assistance scheme
The woman sought $1400 in disaster recovery funding after the 2019 North Queensland floods, despite living in Gladstone at the time.
Police & Courts
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A mother of four was caught lodging a false flood claim, stating she lived in a flood-affected part of North Queensland when she actually lived in Gladstone.
Cody Patricia Marie Roberts, 27, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on Friday to numerous charges including obtaining financial advantage for herself, evading police and possession of dangerous drugs.
The court heard that on March 21, 2019, Roberts lodged a false claim for $1400 via the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment scheme.
In her claim, Roberts updated her address from Larsen Street, West Gladstone, to an address on Thursday Island.
She claimed the property had sustained damage as a result of the floods and that flood waters had breached two bedrooms, the kitchen and the lounge room on February 2, 2019.
As a result, a payment was approved and deposited into Roberts’ account.
An investigation was conducted which found Roberts had illegally obtained the disaster recovery funding and had never lived on Thursday Island.
Anna Pham-Nguyen, from the Director of Public Prosecution’s office, said as of September 21, 2021, there had been no repayments from Roberts and the DPP sought $1400 restitution.
“The disaster recovery payments are designed to assist those in urgent need and the government relies on the honesty of the claimants,” she said.
“If Services Australia were to verify the legitimacy of each disaster recovery claim before dispensing the funds, the payment would be less likely to achieve the ultimate goal of supporting those adversely affected when they need it.”
In sentencing, Magistrate Bevan Manthey said Roberts had previously had the advantage of community-based orders and suspended sentences.
“She continued to commit offences while on bail or at large,” he said.
“I take into account she has already served 151 days of pre-sentence custody and she must be committed back to the District Court for breaching her suspended sentence.”
Roberts wept as Mr Manthey sentenced her to two years’ imprisonment with an immediate parole release date.
Restitution of $1400 was ordered to be paid.
She was recommitted to Gladstone District Court at an unconfirmed date to be sentenced for breaching her suspended sentence.
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