A former Tourism Australia chief financial officer who charged taxpayers almost $50,000 for unauthorised international business class flights and upgrades has avoided full-time imprisonment after being sentenced in the NSW District Court.
Quan Liu, also known as Christine, was sentenced to two years and six months’ imprisonment on Friday, 6 November 2026. The sentence will be served in the community under an Intensive Correction Order (ICO), and she must complete 120 hours of community service.
Liu, who was earning $275,000 a year as the government agency’s CFO, used the taxpayer-funded flights to travel to China six times over 14 months between 2022 and 2023 to visit her elderly parents.
According to court reporting, she sought business class travel because she believed the roomier cabin would reduce her risk of contracting COVID-19 and passing the virus to her parents. She was also concerned about the possibility of being placed in a quarantine camp under China’s strict pandemic restrictions.
The court heard that her fear of COVID-19 influenced her decisions, particularly during the first two trips, and remained a factor throughout the offending.
Liu pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining a financial gain from a Commonwealth entity and an offence relating to facilitating the unlawful entry of a non-citizen into Australia. The latter offence concerned falsified official documents used to secure an Australian business visa for her cousin.
The offences were prosecuted under section 135.1(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) and section 234(1)(c) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth), respectively.
Judge Ross Hudson said Liu had abused the position of trust placed in her by the Australian public and that the sentence needed to deter others from similar conduct.
“This is a jail sentence but you’re servicing that jail sentence in the community.”
In deciding that the sentence could be served through an Intensive Correction Order, the judge considered her genuine regret and remorse, ongoing rehabilitation, lack of prior criminal history and the potential impact of full-time imprisonment on her mental health.
The court also heard that Liu had been experiencing the onset of a major depressive illness when she committed the offences and had since received psychological assistance.
Her conduct was described as lacking sophistication or complexity, with the judge also taking into account the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of being separated from her elderly parents.
Liu lost her position at Tourism Australia, where she had worked for about five years, after the conduct was discovered. She repaid $36,000 to the organisation when asked and was ordered to repay the remaining amount of approximately $13,000.
AFP Detective Superintendent Luke Needham said the misuse of public funds undermined confidence in government processes and institutions.
“Those entrusted with public resources have a responsibility to act with integrity, and the AFP will not hesitate to investigate conduct which may breach this trust.”
He said fraud against the Commonwealth was not a victimless crime, as money diverted for personal gain could otherwise be used to deliver services to the Australian community.
The AFP encouraged the public to report suspected fraud, corruption and other serious misconduct to help protect public funds and maintain confidence in government institutions.
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