An ex-Liberal politician has escaped conviction for personal tax offending, while the company he directed has been fined $5000.
Adam Richard Brooks faced Devonport Magistrates Court today where he was sentenced after pleading guilty to failing to comply with a requirement under taxation law.
The 49-year-old admitted he failed to file income tax returns for the 2019 and 2022 financial years, but a magistrate on Wednesday found this to be less serious than the offending by the company he directed, Rapid Fleet Management.
Magistrate Duncan Fairley found Brooks was facing “substantial, stressful, emotional circumstances” during the offending period after leading a life of industry and public service.
He discharged the tax offending against Brooks, sparing him a conviction, and ordered he pay $99.11 in costs.
“The returns were eventually completed and filed in July of 2024, and resulted in a refund to the defendant in the sum of $81,500 thus the public purse suffered no detriment,” he told the court.
“In fact, it was Mr Brooks who lost the use of a substantial sum of money over an extended period of time.
“The same cannot be said of the failures of Rapid Fleet.”
Brooks previously pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to furnish an approved form, on behalf of Rapid Fleet Management.
Fairley said the company had failed to lodge a business activity statements and tax returns between June 30, 2016 and 2022.
He convicted Rapid Fleet Management on all three charges and fined it $5000, with the additional court costs of $99.11.
Brooks served in Tasmania’s parliament from 2010 to 2019 and held several portfolios including mining, and building and construction.
He stepped down after a report was critical of his use of an email address linked to his mining company, and was re-elected in 2021 but again stepped aside after a campaign marred by catfishing allegations and weapons charges.
In January 2022, Brooks was fined $5000 in a Queensland court after admitting to having an unregistered handgun and stolen driver’s licences.
