by Cam Lucadou-Wells
A food-delivery driver who defrauded the Australian Taxation Office of nearly $145,000 with a “non-existent” business has been jailed.
Melanie Hooimeyer, 25, pleaded guilty to obtaining a financial advantage by deception from a Commonwealth entity as well as a failed attempt of the same.
Between March-September 2022, Hooimeyer submitted seven Business Activity Statements (BAS) to the ATO, claiming a total of $144,648 in false GST refunds.
She splurged the cash on cars, car repairs, clothes, furniture and household goods.
“(The offending) was not for need rather than greed,” sentencing judge Damian Murphy said on 30 October.
As a sole trader with a registered ABN, she falsely asserted more than $1.7 million in purchases for a “non-existent” business. She claimed her main source of income was salary and wages.
“The BASes contained false information as you were not operating a business and had not incurred GST and thus were not entitled to the refunds,” Judge Murphy said.
She told an interview that she had been working as a Menulog delivery driver – which doesn’t attract any GST.
Hooimeyer got involved in the “relatively sophisticated” scheme through housemates, who were car enthusiasts and crims.
Her first three claims were assisted by a third party, the final five were her own work.
Her rorting stopped only after her last claim for a further $15,454 was refused by the ATO.
Born in Sale, Hooimeyer was raised in a strict Christian family in Cranbourne.
She dropped out of school with depression, social anxiety and poor self-esteem, and had been subjected to workplace bullying as a spray-painting apprentice.
Hooimeyer told police at the time she’d been kicked out of accommodation and was living in her car.
An unemployed single parent, she’d repaid little of the defrauded sum.
A defence lawyer argued that she shouldn’t be jailed due to being separated from her child.
Due to give birth to a second child in April 2025, she has elected to not raise her first child in prison. The child will be raised by Hooimeyer’s mother.
Judge Murphy noted her guilty plea, remorse and good rehabilitation prospects.
Hooimeyer had no prior criminal record, and didn’t use a false name or identity during the fraud.
However Judge Murphy said a heavy punishment was required despite her personal circumstances.
“At the end of the day, however, this particular aspect of our taxation system relies on the honesty and cooperation of taxpayers,” Judge Murphy said.
“You breached that trust by your conduct and defrauded the Commonwealth of a very significant amount of money.”
Hooimeyer was jailed for up to 18 months. In eight months, she will be eligible for a recognizance release order of $500 and two-year good behaviour bond.
She was ordered to repay the outstanding $143,754.66 owed to the Commonwealth.
