A St Albans woman has avoided jail after pocketing more than $70,000 in dole payments while working casual and part-time jobs.
Jacqueline Marinakis pleaded guilty in the County Court to one charge of obtaining financial advantage by deception, after receiving $71,190.36 in Newstart allowance payments between July 2010 and December 2014.
A sentencing hearing last month heard that on 116 occasions Ms Marinakis falsely stated she had no income. Judge Wendy Wilmoth said the 53-year-old divorcee, originally from India and now living with her parents, had earned $180,820.36 gross income from her work during this same period, or $1558.80 per fortnight.
Her offending was detected through a data match by the Australian Tax Office on September 13, 2013, and Marinakis was placed “on notice”.
Centrelink advised her that day by SMS that their information showed her employment details had changed and she was required to update them.
She went to a Centrelink office and falsely stated she had not begun any form of employment and only undertook voluntary work.
“That… makes your offending more serious.”
Justice Wilmoth said that it was not until December 2014 that Centrelink notified Ms Marinakis’ employer of the payments, and she was sacked.
“You voluntarily ceased to claim benefits,” she said. “Then in May 2015 … you were notified of the over-payment.
“In July 2015, your bank records were obtained and finally you were charged on 17 March, 2016.”
Marinakis has repaid $990 so far. She received a three-year community corrections order and 200 hours of community service.
