sentence — dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception from Commonwealth entity offence contrary to s 134.2(1) of Commonwealth Criminal Code — nature and circumstances — s 16A(2)(a) — offender lodged form purported to be signed by Hogg who received Age Pension — offender nominated themselves as payment nominee — between 5 October 2010 and 9 July 2018 offender received Hogg’s Age Pension without any entitlement — offender dishonestly obtained $174,618.90 from Department of Human Services — offending took effort and cunning to establish — offender needed to lie to Department repeatedly to continue payment — social security frauds provide heavy burden for taxpayers — undermines integrity of social security system and can demonise needy in society — mental condition — s 16A(2)(m) — offender has long complex mental health history interlinked with drug abuse which started at early age — sentencing judge took disadvantage and turbulence of youth and adolescence into account in mitigation of sentence — money derived from offending was used to perpetuate drug addiction and sustain modest lifestyle — offender has been sexually abused by drug dealer in excess of 20 occasions — psychologist opinion is that mental health would deteriorate if offender was incarcerated as it would inevitably trigger past trauma — family and dependents — s 16A(2)(p) — offender is very concerned about daughter’s ability to cope and thrive in absence — given connection to and intermittent residence with offender’s mother sentencing judge unable to find that this is a case where hardship to daughter is mitigating circumstance — inability to provide support and care will weigh heavily on offender’s own mind — offender sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment to be released on recognisance release order after 6 months
