Public servant Kira Jade Schmidt, Kallangur, sentenced for $15k benefits fraud

A Department of Services worker has been sentenced after fraudulently taking more than $15,000 in Jobseeker and Newstart payments during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A Moreton public servant has been sentenced for defrauding more than $15,000 in Jobseeker and Newstart payments.

Kallangur resident, Kira Jade Schmidt, pleaded guilty in Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on Friday (July 8) to one count of obtaining financial advantage by deception.

Kira Jade Schmidt outside Pine Rivers Magistrates Court.

The court heard the 37-year-old was an employee of Concentrics People Solutions, which worked with the Department of Social Services, when she made 21 false declarations of her earnings over 22 fortnightly periods in 2020.

“She received payments which she was not entitled to at all, or only partially entitled to receive,” Commonwealth prosecutor, Sunny Vanderberg, said.

“She claimed that at the time she had not been calculating her income properly.”

Schmidt’s lawyer said her client regretted her actions.

“She is remorseful for her actions,” she said.

Magistrate Melanie Ho said the charges had to be taken seriously.

“She obtained financial advantage by deception of the Commonwealth,” Ms Ho said.

Schmidt was convicted, fined $2000 and sentenced to 12 months’ jail with immediate release, with a two-year good behaviour period.

She was ordered to pay $103.60 to the Commonwealth.