Hon. Matt Benson-Lidholm questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food regarding a fraud investigation involving Dharmic Pty Ltd. The Minister confirms awareness of the Major Fraud Squad's requirement for a formal complaint but declines to direct the Department to lodge one, citing insufficient evidence.

AnsweredQoN 879Legislative Council
Asked
9 November 2010
Portfolio
Agriculture and Food

QuestionView source ↗

DHARMIC PTY LTD — INVOICE YIH 0625
I refer to question without notice 822 regarding Dharmic Pty Ltd and the major fraud squad’s attempt to conduct an investigation into an alleged fraudulent document lodged by that company with the Department of Agriculture and Food. (1) Is the minister aware that the major fraud squad has advised the third party referred to in the minister’s answer, along with the Department of Agriculture and Food, that in order to conduct an investigation of this allegation, the squad requires the Department of Agriculture and Food to make a formal complaint as the punitive victim of this alleged crime? (2) With this knowledge, will the minister now direct the Department of Agriculture and Food to lodge a formal complaint with the major fraud squad in order for it to conduct a thorough, complete and competent investigation of this matter; and, if not, why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for his question. He certainly is like a dog with a bone on this Dharmic question! (1) Yes. (2) No. After consideration of the matter, the department concluded it did not have evidence to justify lodging a formal complaint. The minister supports that decision.
(1) Is the minister aware that the major fraud squad has advised the third party referred to in the minister’s answer, along with the Department of Agriculture and Food, that in order to conduct an investigation of this allegation, the squad requires the Department of Agriculture and Food to make a formal complaint as the punitive victim of this alleged crime? (2) With this knowledge, will the minister now direct the Department of Agriculture and Food to lodge a formal complaint with the major fraud squad in order for it to conduct a thorough, complete and competent investigation of this matter; and, if not, why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for his question. He certainly is like a dog with a bone on this Dharmic question! (1) Yes. (2) No. After consideration of the matter, the department concluded it did not have evidence to justify lodging a formal complaint. The minister supports that decision.
(2) With this knowledge, will the minister now direct the Department of Agriculture and Food to lodge a formal complaint with the major fraud squad in order for it to conduct a thorough, complete and competent investigation of this matter; and, if not, why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for his question. He certainly is like a dog with a bone on this Dharmic question! (1) Yes. (2) No. After consideration of the matter, the department concluded it did not have evidence to justify lodging a formal complaint. The minister supports that decision.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for his question. He certainly is like a dog with a bone on this Dharmic question! (1) Yes. (2) No. After consideration of the matter, the department concluded it did not have evidence to justify lodging a formal complaint. The minister supports that decision.
I thank the member for his question. He certainly is like a dog with a bone on this Dharmic question! (1) Yes. (2) No. After consideration of the matter, the department concluded it did not have evidence to justify lodging a formal complaint. The minister supports that decision.
(1) Yes. (2) No. After consideration of the matter, the department concluded it did not have evidence to justify lodging a formal complaint. The minister supports that decision.
(2) No. After consideration of the matter, the department concluded it did not have evidence to justify lodging a formal complaint. The minister supports that decision.

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