QUEENSLAND police have charged a St George man over an alleged $95,000 Drought Relief Assistance Scheme fraud.

On the myPolice Major and Organised Crime Squad (Rural) site on 5 July, Detective Sergeant Warren Baker reported that a 43 year-old St George man has been charged with 23 fraud-related charges.

The charges follow a protracted investigation into three applications made to the Queensland Government’s Drought Relief Assistance Scheme.

Investigators from the Major and Organised Crime Squad Rural (Charleville), charged the man at St George with two counts of fraud, one count of attempted fraud, 10 counts of forging documents and 10 counts of uttering forged documents.

Police will be allege that fraudulent claims were submitted to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries relating to the “Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate” from 2013 to 2017. As a result, payments totalling $62,632.73 were approved and paid, whilst a further $32,630.62 was claimed but not paid.

Detective Inspector Troy Pukallus, Major and Organised Crime Squad (Rural) said that investigations into this kind of crime will continue.

“Police will continue to work in partnership with other government departments to ensure that the integrity of any scheme designed to support our farmers is maintained and not criminally exploited by a very small number of people,” Detective Inspector Pukallus said.

The man will appear before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on July 23.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form24hrs per day.

You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.