Townsville man charged for providing misleading statement on Commonwealth documents

A 37-year-old Townsville man has been charged with three counts of providing misleading information when applying for an Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC) in the aviation industry in North Queensland.

The man was charged by Australian Federal Police investigators after a report from the Department of Home Affairs allegedly showed the man had provided misleading statements when attempting to work at Cairns Airport in July 2020 and Townsville Airport in April 2021.

It will be alleged the man had falsely declared he had no criminal history and falsely declared he had not previously been refused ASIC accreditation.

The Hyde Park man is due to appear in Townsville Magistrates Court today (15 November 2021), where he will face three counts of providing a misleading statement contrary to subsection 136.1(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).

If found guilty the man could face up to 12 months imprisonment.

AFP Acting Superintendent Josh Kinghorn, Airport Police Commander Cairns said the AFP will not tolerate abuse of the ASIC system, which is designed to protect the integrity of Australian airports.

“Aviation is a key part of keeping Australia connected and the AFP will will continue to seek out any breaches or offences related to the aviation security identification card to protect our airports from acts of terrorism and unlawful interference by transnational serious organised crime,” Acting Superintendent Kinghorn said.

“This system provides a level of reassurance to everyone travelling through and working in airports, and we will not hesitate to refer criminal charges on those who breach the integrity of these measures.”

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