The maximum penalty for the offence of “intention to defraud by false or misleading statement” is 5 years in prison.
According to the Judicial Commission of NSW, the actual penalties imposed for the offence are as follows:
- Community Correction Order: 44.26%
- Conditional Release Order without Conviction: 14.75%
- Prison: 14.75%
- Fine Only: 13.11%
- Intensive Correction Order: 8.2%
- Conditional Release Order with Conviction: 4.92%
The average prison sentence for the offence is 11 months imprisonment, and the average non-parole period (or minimum prison term that must be served) is 8 months in prison.