World · East Asia & Pacific · 37 mins ago
Tasmanian woman jailed for claiming $51,760 for a child who did not exist
Athena Murray was jailed for claiming benefits for a child who did not exist in Tasmania, Australia.
The 63-year-old grandmother pleaded guilty to obtaining a financial advantage by deception and making false statements to Medicare.
She claimed $51,760.46 over eight years, starting in 2009 by registering a baby girl and seeking Family Tax Benefit and Baby Bonus payments.
She also added the child to her Medicare card and later listed her as a dependent on a Newstart claim.
A government review began after a public tip-off in 2017, and investigators found no Medicare claims for the child.
The court found Murray had faked the pregnancy and birth, but the sources do not state her sentence length or describe any next steps.
Athena Murray was jailed for claiming $51,760.46 in Centrelink benefits for a child who did not exist.
The Tasmanian mother of eight pleaded guilty to two charges involving financial advantage by deception and false statements to Medicare.
The scheme began in 2009, when Murray registered a baby girl’s birth and claimed benefits.
The Department of Human Services reviewed her entitlements in 2017 after a tip-off from a member of the public.
Justice Kate Cuthbertson found beyond reasonable doubt that Murray had faked the pregnancy.
- Who
- Athena Murray, a 63-year-old mother of eight from Tasmania.
- What
- She was jailed after claiming $51,760.46 in benefits for a child who did not exist.
- When
- The claims ran from 2009 to 2017. The sentencing date is not stated.
- Where
- Tasmania; Murray was living in North Queensland when investigators searched her home.
- Why
- She claimed Family Tax Benefit and Baby Bonus payments for the fictitious child.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Murray told Centrelink she would give birth in two weeks.
Murray registered a baby girl’s birth at her Sheffield home.
The Department of Human Services reviewed Murray’s entitlements after a public tip-off.
Murray’s former partner died.
Murray was charged and extradited to Tasmania.
- Benefits claimed
- $51,760.46
- Defendant
- Athena Murray, 63
- Claim period
- 2009–2017
- Registered child
- Hayley
- Birth registration date
- March 26, 2009
- Review trigger
- Tip-off from a member of the public
What people are saying
You presented as fundamentally dishonest.
In my mind I was just trying to keep her alive.