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Ethan James

Former Liberal MP pleads guilty to taxation charges

Former Tasmanian MP Adam Brooks has pleaded guilty to taxation charges. (Cheryl Goodenough/AAP PHOTOS)

A former Liberal politician previously fined for having an unregistered gun and accused of setting up a fake dating profile has pleaded guilty to tax offences. 

Adam Brooks, who was an MP in Tasmania's parliament from 2010 to 2019 and was re-elected in 2021, appeared in Devonport Magistrates Court on Friday. 

He was expected to face a hearing after earlier pleading not guilty to 30 charges levelled at himself and his company Rapid Fleet Management.

Brooks instead pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a requirement under taxation law after charges against him were reduced from four to one. 

Adam Brooks (file image)
Adam Brooks was re-elected in 2021 but quit before being sworn in after denying "catfishing" claims.

The charge related to financial years from 2017 to 2021, the court was told. 

Brooks also pleaded guilty on behalf of Rapid Fleet Management to three counts of failing to furnish an approved form. 

The charges against the company were amended from an initial 26 counts, and relate to GST returns over several financial years.

Brooks, whose bail was continued, is set to be sentenced on September 19. 

He stepped down from ministerial positions in 2016 after conflict of interest concerns which were subsequently cleared by an independent inquiry. 

Brooks resigned from parliament in 2019 after a report by Tasmania's Integrity Commission was critical of his use of a business email.

He was re-elected in 2021 but quit before being sworn in after a tumultuous campaign in which he was accused of "catfishing" women on dating applications, something he denied. 

In 2022, Brooks was fined $5000 by a Queensland court after pleading guilty to having an unregistered handgun and stolen driver's licences. 

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