General Manager Statement on Fraud Charges – Former Employee – 17 Feb
Published on 18 February 2026
At the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 17 February 2026, the General Manager responded to a Question with Notice from Mayor Cr Nina Dillon concerning the former employee recently charged by NSW Police. Below is the full statement provided by Council's General Manager, Mr Scott Gallacher.
Question with Notice: Can the General Manager provide Councillors with an update on the former employee who has been charged with a range of charges relating to fraud and dishonesty by NSW Police, particularly the timeframes concerned, as well as his views on what these charges mean for the Council.
Response:
Thank you for this Question.
As you know, the Financial Crime Squad (FCS) of the NSW Police have formally charged a former employee of Goulburn Mulwaree Council, Tom Dimec, with a range of charges relating to financial dishonesty and public office misconduct.
The charges relate to Mr Dimec’s time of employment with not just ourselves, but also Shoalhaven and Murrumbidgee Councils.
The charges outline that, during the period 2012-2024, a total amount of $1.295 million was allegedly deposited into bank accounts controlled by Mr Dimec.
This is a matter that fits squarely within the remit of the NSW Police and we have been, and will continue to provide whatever assistance the Police requires from us.
All media and other enquiries on this matter have been, and will continue to be directed to the Police.
I am also very conscious that until such time as Mr Dimec is actually found guilty of the charges, there is – under the criminal justice system – a presumption of innocence.
Nonetheless, I believe it important to make this Statement in response to the Question with Notice.
Upfront, I want you to know that I, and all other Staff at Goulburn Mulwaree Council, share your concerns, questions and outrage that something like this happened. This is a fundamental breach of trust, not just between an employee and their employer, but most crucially, with our community. The community that we serve, each and every day.
Mr Dimec was employed at the Council from February 2009 through to August 2016. During that time, he was:
- Design Engineer: 2009 – 2015, and
- Construction Superintendent: 2015-2016.
In terms of his specific time with the Council, Mr Dimec has been charged with a total of 34 fraud offences (namely, dishonestly obtain financial advantage or cause disadvantage by deception), totalling $707,599.54 for the period 16/08/12 - 23/06/16.
He has also been charged with a corruption offence which encompasses all three Councils and the total amount defrauded.
He also has other, more specific fraud offences, relating to his time with the other Councils.
Staff at Goulburn Mulwaree Council first became aware there were questions being asked about Mr Dimec’s time at the Council in February 2024 when we were contacted by the NSW Police who were investigating the possibility of a fraud against Murrumbidgee Council where Mr Dimec was apparently employed at the time.
Since February 2024, the Council has responded to a range of information requests by the NSW Police and the nature and scope of the charges that have now been laid against Mr Dimec are the responsibility of the NSW Police.
Clearly, at all times since February 2024 until the Police formally charged Mr Dimec there was a very small number of Staff at the Council who were aware of the Police Investigation. And those people were subject to confidentiality undertakings.
It would not be appropriate for me to offer any further insights or details on the charges, nor can I offer anything additional on the nature of Mr Dimec’s employment with the Council. These matters will all be addressed and covered off in the context of the criminal case against Mr Dimec, with the Police at the forefront of that.
But I would like to offer some thoughts as the General Manager.
Since joining the Council in September 2025, everything I have seen in terms of the financial systems, reporting and purchasing controls has given me tremendous assurance and confidence over the credibility, integrity and professionalism of our staff. But matters like this do highlight the need for us to have ongoing vigilance.
I have therefore commissioned an independent audit of the Council to be able to provide not just myself, but you and, ultimately, our ratepayers and community as much confidence and assurance as is possible over the robustness and security of our financial systems, controls and reporting.
Ultimately, this audit will provide an independent set of eyes looking at our systems and controls and identifying any areas for improvement and strengthening when it comes to the effectiveness of, and management of fraud controls at the Council.
My intention is to provide a summary of the outcomes of this audit once it is concluded to Councillors and, ultimately, our community.
Finally, I would like to take the opportunity to thank our colleagues in the Police for everything they have done so far on this matter, and we stand ready to continue to deliver the Police as much support as possible over the coming times to ensure we all have a successful outcome in the proceedings that are now before the Court.