Queensland cotton farmer charged with $20m Murray-Darling plan fraud
by Kerry Brewster from on (#3XMBW)
Charges against irrigator John Norman involve federal funds allocated for water projects
One of Australia's most successful cotton irrigators has been charged with conspiring to defraud the commonwealth of more than $20m.
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.