Cairns Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News. A labourer who faked $2.
1m of work for a business that did not exist has been jailed for a “blatant and brazen” $179,000 tax fraud. Rodney James McNeill, 46, a labourer and former council worker, pleaded guilty in Cairns District Court to seven counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception and to one count of attempting to obtain financial advantage by deception. In documents tendered to the court by Commonwealth prosecutor Trent Denman, the court was told McNeill’s scheme involved lodging false Business Activity Statements between October 2021 and May 13, 2022.
McNeill reactivated an old Australian Business Number and used it to submit BAS, claiming he was engaged in site preparation services, the court was told. The court was told the Australian Taxation Office issued McNeill with Goods and Services Tax refunds of $152,800 over seven payments. McNeill’s eighth attempt to gain an additional $26,269 was unsuccessful.
Mr Denman submitted actual jail time was necessary for “deterrence and denunciation”. Defence barrister James Sheridan said McNeill had struggled with a methylamphetamine addiction throughout his life, but had a good employment history despite these issues. Mr Sheridan said McNeill, a father of six, had worked in civil constructions, labouring, the fishing industry and been a council worker.
Judge Joshua Trevino KC said tax fraud was not a victimle.