Allegedly fake Aboriginal Hayley Terei bailed to live on country rehab farm with ‘professional chef’

A woman who allegedly lied about her Aboriginality to get bail has been released to a country rehab farm with a “professional chef” to await trial, all on the taxpayer’s dime.

Hayley Terei became notorious for claiming she was Aboriginal to get bail in the Supreme Court. Police allege she lied and have charged her with perverting the course of justice.

An allegedly fake Aboriginal woman has been released to a cushy residential rehab facility in Gippsland where she will look after animals and do farm chores while being fed by a “professional chef” – all funded by Centrelink.

Hayley Terei, 33, was released on bail in the County Court on Thursday as she awaits trial after pleading not guilty to perverting the course of justice.

Terei is accused of lying to the Supreme Court about her Aboriginality, in an attempt to take advantage of bail laws designed to keep First Nations people out of custody.

The court heard she would spend the time ahead of her trial doing farm chores and caring for animals on the regional property run by rehab provider Windana.

She could spend up to nine months at the facility on the taxpayer’s dime funded by her Centrelink payments, the court heard.

Hayley Terei was released on bail despite the court hearing of a history of breaching bail conditions.

Windana intake officer Rod Cella told the court Terei could stay at the facility for up to nine months, though that could be extended to 12 months.

He said the residents were taken on morning walks and cooked breakfast by a “professional chef” because a “healthy diet” was important for recovering drug addicts.

Residents undertake farm chores and care for animals on the several acre facility, he said.

According to the rehab centre’s website, the “peer driven” facility is “set on a beautiful 40-acre property home to farm and native animals, planted crops, natural bushland and shared spaces to live and work”.

Mr Cella noted residents at the facility could also become eligible for day trips to Pakenham for activities like sports.

Terei was initially granted bail last year on eight charges related to a high-end burglary in which seven firearms, ammunition, $470,000 cash, gold nuggets and other valuables were stolen from a Hastings home.

Windana Maryknoll Therapeutic Community in Gippsland where Terei was bailed to. Picture: Supplied.

However, that bail was revoked when she allegedly failed to comply with “almost every condition” imposed by the court, prosecutor Fiona Martin told the court.

On Thursday, the prosecution opposed the fresh bail bid with Ms Martin arguing Terei was “prepared to say anything she needed to get bail”, as she had done multiple times before re-offending.

Ms Martin argued “nothing has changed” for the court to believe that “this time she means it”.

She alleged Terei knew where to find and access several stolen and missing firearms connected to the Hastings heist, and that made her a risk to the community.

Hayley Terei

Defence barrister Ashleigh Harrold argued Terei would be isolated from former associates and not have access to cars, ameliorating the prosecution’s concerns.

Mr Cella said Windana staff wouldn’t be able to stop a person who was “hell bent” on leaving the facility – but they would immediately inform the police if she left.

Ms Harrold argued Terei was entitled to bail and her criminal history shouldn’t prevent her from accessing rehabilitation treatment for her drug addiction that was fuelling her offending and so she could “better herself” for her four children.

Addressing recent changes to bail law requiring the courts to put the protection of the community first, Ms Harrold argued the rehabilitation of Ms Terei would protect the community in the long term.

Judge Robyn Harper released Terei on bail after the allegedly fake Aboriginal had served 228 days in pre-sentence detention.