Former Tourism Australia Executive Admits to Defrauding Taxpayers

A former executive at Tourism Australia has admitted to defrauding taxpayers of nearly $50,000 through business-class flights to China and falsifying official documents to aid her cousin's visa application. Quan Liu, also known as Christine Liu, 50, a former chief financial executive, was ordered to repay public funds that covered her flights and accommodation over a 14-month period between 2022 and 2023.

The court heard that Liu took six business-class flights to China to visit her parents, who were impacted by COVID-19. She also forged a letter on Tourism Australia letterhead to support her cousin's Australian business visa application after its initial rejection. The forged letter falsely implied Liu was traveling for work and suggested her cousin had the endorsement of Tourism Australia for a site inspection tour.

Crown prosecutor Richard Dixon stated that Liu had abused her position as a senior public servant. "It wasn't just a one-off and each time she accepted those free tickets, she was on notice… every time she looked at the ticket, she knew what she was doing and it was something she took advantage of," Dixon said. Evidence presented included Liu's police interview, where she acknowledged she could have afforded to pay for the flights herself, admitting, "It's quite stupid of me to go through all this ticketing with Tourism Australia because, like you said, I could've just paid for my own tickets."

Dixon criticized the forged letter as an attempt to undermine the Australian government's previous visa decision, stating it was held out as an undertaking by the Australian government to host the cousin at all expenses. There is no suggestion that Liu's cousin or other family members were aware of her conduct.

Liu was terminated from Tourism Australia in October 2023 and subsequently resigned from her chief financial executive role at maritime company Polaris Marine. Her lawyer, Zoe Alderton, stated that Liu has repaid all the misappropriated funds and has already faced significant professional repercussions. Alderton argued that the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic and the care of her sick parents in China had affected Liu's mental well-being, suggesting her judgment was clouded and the conduct was not a calculated act for financial gain.

Liu pleaded guilty to six counts of dishonestly intending to obtain a gain, one count of delivering documents containing a false statement, and one count of abusing public office to gain an advantage. Her sentencing has been adjourned until November 6, 2026.