Where’s the Water?

[The Mechanic]

Two senior figures in Queensland cotton conglomerate Norman Farming have been arrested over an alleged $20 million fraud involving federal funds earmarked for Murray-Darling water savings.

Norman Farming CEO John Norman, 43, and his chief financial officer Steve Evans, 53, surrendered themselves at the Brisbane watch house Tuesday morning with their lawyers at their sides.

The men appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court Tuesday afternoon and were granted bail.

Norman Farming chief executive John Norman (L) and chief financial officer Steve Evans
PHOTO: Norman Farming CEO John Norman (L) and CFO Steve Evans leaving court in Brisbane. (AAP: Dan Peled)
Police are alleging the rural fraud operation involved the director of the company submitting fraudulent claims, including falsified invoices related to six water-efficiency projects on the southern border property near Goondiwindi, known as Healthy Headwater projects.

Mr Evans will face charges in relation to four of those projects.

Police said the sophisticated fraud spanned seven years.

It has taken the rural arm of the major and organised crime squad more than a year to conduct what Detective Inspector Mick Dowie called, "a very protracted, very complex investigation".

Inspector Dowie said they had to trawl through thousands of documents and call in forensics accountants because of the sheer scale of the activities.

"There has obviously been a significant amount of documentation that's had to be analysed, and the offences particularly relate to the modification of invoices from contractors or service providers to the farming community," he said.

"We'll allege the company contracted harvesters or machinery operators to prepare for farming.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-28/ ... g/10172736

Oh wow, looks like the lid is about to be blown off... we also need to round up corrupt politicians who are involved!

So we hope.

Can those who were denied water sue for damages?

surely if they find that government MPs have done a dodgy on this then that will possibly make the government liable... or those stations that have stolen money and water should be taken to the cleaners ... sold up with all the proceeds going back to those that have been damaged by corrupt greedy arsewipes..