South West man became enraged at rejected Centrelink application, punched panel protecting staff

A South West man who became enraged when his Centrelink crisis payment application was rejected punched the plastic panel separating him from the staff he was verbally abusing. Michael Barry Ingham, 50, appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to damaging one of Services Australia’s acrylic panels which protects its staff inside the Bunbury office. The court was told on March 25 at about 1.15pm, Ingham spoke to staff about a crisis payment he was hoping to secure to help with housing payments while caring for his mother who is dying of leukaemia. However, he was told the application had been rejected. Ingham then punched the protective panel in a fit of rage, causing the bracket which holds it up to break, while verbally abusing the staff. The court was told he was escorted out by security and later told police he was “in a bit of a hard place and got angry”. Magistrate Joanne Andretich asked Ingham if he would rather be fined or be placed on a community based order to get some assistance, but Ingham said he would rather be fined so he can take up a training course. He was fined $500 for the offence and ordered to pay $272 in court costs, but will not need to pay back the $250 the panel was valued at.