A former senior Tourism Australia employee has been charged with fraud to fund personal travel.
The unnamed woman is accused of embezzling $49,000 in public funds to fund flights and hotels for personal trips overseas.
She was charged in early May with fraud and a violation of the Migration Act.
It followed a year-long Australian Federal Police investigation.
The fraud was perpetrated over a 14-month period the AFP says.
“It’s alleged the woman used public funds to pay for multiple flights and accommodation in connection with four personal trips overseas, costing about $49,000.”
“It’s also alleged she used a falsified visa letter to support her claim that she was travelling for work and arranged a false document for a foreign national to obtain a visa for entry into Australia.”
The woman has denied all of the allegations, her attorney said.
A Tourism Australia had ‘identified breaches relating to travel expenditure by a senior officer.’
“Tourism Australia recovered the monies from the individual and referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police.”
