Holly Laws sentenced to repay money, community service after unlawfully acquiring bushfire relief

A Wauchope mum who claimed $10,000 in government grants she wasn’t entitled to has avoided jail.

A Wauchope mum who claimed $10,000 in government grants she wasn’t entitled to has avoided jail.

On April 28 2020, Laws received the sum in bushfire grants from ServiceNSW, despite not being eligible for the relief, Port Macqaurie local court heard this month.

The funding was intended for small businesses in need of assistance amid natural disasters.

Laws was charged with one count of dealing with property proceeds of crime under $100,000, for which she pleaded guilty.

Two other charges relating to attempts to dishonestly obtain amounts of $3,000 (Covid-19 relief) and $50,000 (bushfire relief), were dropped.

Laws’ defence, Jordan Moussa, told the court that his client was willing to repay her debt.

“Her criminal record does not pass the threshold (to warrant jail time), she’s willing to pay compensation to ServiceNSW, and she has made arrangements with friends to take care of her children so she’s available to do community service during the day,” Mr Moussa said.

“The opportunity (for Laws to apply for grant funding) truly was too good to be true – I would suggest a conditional release and community service.”

Magistrate Georgina Darcy warned Laws against the seriousness of the offence.

Laws appeared in Port Macquarie local court on Wednesday, March 24, 2022.

“That money was intended for genuine victims of the bushfires,” she said.

“So the result of your case needs to be one that deters other people from committing a similar offence.

“However, I can see you don’t have a record of dishonesty, so this seems to be more opportunistic (than malicious).”

Ms Darcy recorded a conviction and sentenced her to a community correction order for a period of 12 months, with supervision, as well as 80 hours of community service work.

The magistrate also ordered Laws to repay the $10,000 to ServiceNSW, and have her ID (including fingerprints) recorded at Port Macquarie Police Station within 24 hours of sentencing.