Queensland’s former cotton farmer of the year, John Norman, 43, was charged on Tuesday with six counts of fraud involving commonwealth funds allocated for water efficiency projects under the Murray-Darling basin plan.
Norman owns an 18,000-hectare cotton aggregate outside Goondiwindi, near the New South Wales border.
Det Insp Mick Dowie said the arrests were the result of a long and complex investigation and police would allege fraudulent activity across six projects between 2010 and 2017.
One of Queensland’s largest irrigators expected to be charged with fraud Read more If found guilty, the two men face extended jail sentences.
He said some contractors’ invoices were allegedly amended either by the contractors themselves or by Norman Farming later.
“I am aware of the impact this will have on the small farming communities in the area and possible individuals.
John Norman’s immediate neighbours said they were relieved charges had been laid.
The charges are likely to ignite calls for an independent audit of the plan, already under pressure from the royal commission established by the former SA premier Jay Weatherill.
Littleproud has denied any personal conflict, saying the awarding of Healthy Headwaters grants was a state responsibility.
“Now that charges have been laid, the water minister, David Littleproud, should step aside to avoid any perceived conflict of interest,” she said.