Queensland bureaucrat Joel Barlow on the run after alleged $16m health scam

A SENIOR Queensland health bureaucrat was on the run last night, suspected of embezzling up to $16 million

A SENIOR Queensland health bureaucrat was on the run last night, suspected of embezzling up to $16 million in what could be the biggest single swindle of public funds in the state's history.

A furious Premier Anna Bligh vowed to "tear down" any structures that allowed 36-year-old divisional manager Joel Barlow to siphon off the missing money, which allegedly includes $11m stolen over the past fortnight.

It is believed he transferred health grants for community groups to a personal account by forging the signature of a more senior departmental officer, in a scam that could stretch back years. He has been employed by Queensland Health since 2005.

Colleagues became suspicious of his high-flying lifestyle 12 months ago and attempted to blow the whistle, but an internal investigation cleared him. Nine News reported last night that Mr Barlow was finally exposed on Thursday, after the recent flurry of account transfers of $11m came to light.

Queensland's Crime and Misconduct Commission confirmed it had last year passed on information about him to Queensland Health's Ethical Standards Unit.

"Any system is at the mercy of a dishonest person, but if it is shown that there are problems with government processes that allowed this money to be stolen, make no mistake, heads will roll," Ms Bligh said. "I am furious that something like this could happen. I am furious at the individual and, if there have been structural failings that allowed this to happen, I will tear those structures down."

Mr Barlow, whose full name is Hohepa Morehu-Barlow, was manager of the finance division of the Community Services Branch of Queensland Health, and made no attempt to hide his wealth. He had a luxury waterfront unit in fashionable New Farm in Brisbane, owned sports cars, expensive artwork and a share in a perfume shop, among other assets that police and CMC investigators were sifting through yesterday.

Ms Bligh said police were confident a "large amount" of the missing funds, much of it in cash, could be recovered. Cars and a property had already been seized.

Police last night issued hold orders for Mr Barlow at airports nationwide, and warned he uses a number of aliases. He is described as being of Pacific Islander in appearance, about 180cm tall, with short dark hair and a solid build.

The state opposition pointed out that the Queensland auditor-general had in May raised concerns about the government's financial management practices.

LNP parliamentary leader Jeff Seeney demanded that Ms Bligh release full details of how so much money could have been stolen by one government employee.

The Premier said she had ordered an independent forensic audit of Queensland Health accounts by firms Clayton Utz and KPMG to "detect any weaknesses in the corporate governance system" and to gather evidence that could be used in future legal proceedings. Mr Bligh insisted the government would leave "no stone unturned" to recover every cent possible.

The alleged fraud "may be the most serious case of fraud in Queensland's public administration history", she said.