Mount Isa pilot accused of $254k MP fraud
HUNDREDS of thousands in taxpayer dollars may have been paid to alleged fraudster Josh Hoch, with a court hearing Kennedy MP spent $257,000 on chartered flights with the pilot.
Prosecutor Sergeant Vaughan Cooper yesterday detailed Mr Katter’s expenses with Mr Hoch, at his bail application for more than 300 offences.
“The offences the defendant faces are serious, not only those five offences (tampering with aircraft), but also the offences of fraud,” Sgt Cooper said.
“Your honour will note the defendant using, without accreditation, aircraft to fly the honourable Bob Katter without the correct accreditation.
“Allowing him to pilot and receive payment for these charters and that will be alleged your honour is some $257,000 and I do round that down.
“The case against the defendant regarding those matters is strong.”
Bailed Mount Isa airman
According to documents from the Department of Finance, Mr Katter claimed more than $53,000 on chartered flights in the first half of 2016 alone.
The Kennedy MP is given a large travel allowance, particularly for charter flights, to traverse a massive electorate that is bigger than some countries.
Mr Katter would not comment when contacted by the Bulletin over the charges against Koch.
“As this matter is now before the courts it would be inappropriate to comment,” he said.
Senator Ian Macdonald said he would take up industry regulation concerns with Infrastructure and Transport Minister Darren Chester.
“I will certainly be following this up with the Transport Minister … I’m quite confident he has already been briefed but this is clearly a matter for the police and CASA investigators to report to him with any recommendations of any new regulatory action,” he said.
“I’m very curious in this instance how this has not come to their attention previously … CASA should have been leading the charge rather than police.”
CASA plunged into chaos
Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole said it was necessary to look further into the current level of oversight after the arrest of Hoch.
“Questions need to be asked, and answers provided, about what officials did and did not know,” she said.
“How can this happen surely needs to be the question. The real issue is that we have absolutely no certainty that incidents of this nature are not falling through the gap.”