Brisbane, 12 December 2016
| Date | 12 December 2016 |
|---|---|
| Charges | One charge of providing a document containing false or misleading information |
| Court | Brisbane Magistrates Court |
| Plea | Guilty |
| Facts | The worker lodged a claim for compensation on 22 May 2012 for PTSD and depression after witnessing a workplace fatality during his employment on 25 March 2011. The claim was accepted and compensation was paid between 21 May 2012 and 10 January 2014. On 7 February 2014, the worker lodged a Notice of Claim for Damages alleging he had not been able to return to work since the date of injury. The worker provided a signed statutory declaration dated 19 November 2014 declaring that he was unemployed and that he had not undertaken any paid or unpaid work since the date of injury and he survived on his wife's income. Surveillance showed the worker working at a caravan park in September 2014 and November 2014. The park owners confirmed the worker tendered for the management rights to the caravan park in April 2014 and commenced management of the park on 1 July 2014. |
| Penalty | Fine $2,000.00 |
| Restitution | N/A |
| Costs | $5,250.00 |
| Conviction | Recorded |
| Consideration for Prevention | It is an offence for a worker to provide any false statements/statutory declarations in support of their common law claim. |