Mildura Magistrates’ Court: Naomi Bullock attempted more than 44K in ATO GST fraud

A Mildura farm worker tried to swindle the ATO out of almost $45k, but the grape picking granny had her cork popped in a GST investigation.

Naomi Bullock leaving Mildura Magistrates’ Court.

A Mildura grape picker tried to con almost $45,000 out of the ATO for a trucking business that never existed.

Between May and June last year, Naomi Bullock, who worked at a Karadoc winery, made three separate GST refund claims for a total of $44,700.

Naomi Bullock attempted to swindle the ATO out of more than $44,00 in false GST claims.

However, due to an ongoing operation into GST fraud, her account was audited and the money deposited into her bank account, before she was arrested on October 19 and gave a no comment interview.

Bullock’s Lawyer Robyn Greenhill made submissions to the court that Bullock had just been in prison for other matters and had done quite well, and further jail sentence would only disrupt her efforts to get off drugs.

“She was released from prison in June and has just completed 16 weeks of drug rehabilitation, she worked hard doing everything right in regards to her recovery and she’s kicking herself for getting involved in this,” she said.

Ms Greenhill made further submissions that outside of her full-time work she was a dedicated grandmother.

“She works full time and on the weekends she looks after her grandchildren on the weekends,” she said.

Bullock pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to 150 hours of community work with a conviction but Magistrate Michael Coghlan warned her that she would be open for resentencing if she didn’t complete the order.

“I want to warn you that if you breach this community corrections order you’ll be available for resentencing, it won’t be as simple as walking out of here with a fine,” he said.