A trial of two cattle station owners has heard allegations $131,000 was fraudulently obtained from a Queensland government drought relief scheme.
Debra and Chanelle Viney — part owners of 12,100-hectare Janeville station at Praire east of Hughenden – pleaded not guilty to fraud offences in the District Court in Townsville on Monday.
The sisters are representing themselves in what is expected to be a three week trial.
Debra Grace Viney, 61, is charged with eight offences, including three counts of defrauding the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries of $30,000 or more, one count of fraud by dishonestly obtaining property, two counts of attempted fraud of $30,000 or more, and two counts of attempted fraud.
Her younger sister Chanelle Vanessa Viney, 48, is charged with one offence of defrauding the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries of $30,000 or more.
During opening statements crown prosecutor Joshua Francis told the jury Debra Viney made seven applications to the state government's Drought Relief Assistance Scheme between 2013 and 2017, all of which were "false or fraudulent in some way".
The court heard the series of claims were for the transportation of fodder and/or the purchase and installation of...
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