Ex-MP staffer guilty of electoral fraud

A staffer to former Wollongong politician Noreen Hay has been found guilty of electoral fraud.

Susan Greenhalgh’s conviction comes four years after she forged documents and falsely updated the electoral roll.

It meant five names were moved into the Wollongong electorate, ahead of a pre-selection vote.

Greenhalgh was charged by the Australian Federal Police in 2016, following raids on Hay’s electoral office.

She pleaded not guilty, admitting in her hearing that she believed she had permission to sign the electronically lodged forms. 

However, after considering the evidence from her hearing, the magistrate decided that her actions were dishonest, telling the court, "it's not the behaviour expected of such a person in her position".

The magistrate said Geenhalgh was "under pressure" ahead of a looming deadline for ALP pre-selection.

Greenhalgh was convicted on all five counts and will return t court in July for sentencing.