$2m mum reveals her big spend
A SUNSHINE Coast mum facing a lengthy jail sentence after being given $2 million by the federal government has revealed how she splurged the money.
Judy Lorbek, of Coes Creek, near Nambour, appeared on Seven's Today Tonight to detail why she did what she did.
She told the show that the ordeal has been extremely traumatic for her and her family.
But Mrs Lorbek said she did not think she should have phoned Centrelink when the money landed in her account in February. She was meant to receive $2000.
"I just thought from where I'd come, that it was money owing to me.''
The Sunshine Coast mother of three lived it up, going on shopping sprees, lavish holidays and even doing a home makeover.
"It was just like 'Wow, this is fantastic for my children,'' Mrs Lorbek said.
Her lawyer says she is sorry for spending the money but says she was 'overwhelmed by the temptation''.
She said her top priority was paying off her $200,000 mortgage as well as splurging on a $90,000 renovation of her older-style home.
She tiled the floors, knocked out walls, and put air-conditioning in.
Mrs Lorbek even splurged $15,000 on a ten day, five star holiday on the Gold Coast with her youngest children before hitting Sydney, staying at upmarket hotels and hitting the stores.
"We looked at bags, we love bags and clothes, just really shopped and if we saw something we bought it.''
She even put a $65,000 deposit on a house in Sydney.
In just weeks, $385,000 was gone.
Authorities say she put another $15,000 through the poker machines.
But the spending spree came to a crashing halt when she was arrested outside a Sydney RSL club.
"All these men just came out of the woodwork,'' she tells Today Tonight.
"I thought it was handed quite pathetically.''
Mrs Lorbek has pleaded guilty to stealing from the Commonwealth is now waiting to be sentenced in the Brisbane District Court.
Her lawyer says she is facing significant jail time. The maximum sentence is 10 years.
Federal Police have reportedly recovered all but $150,000 of the $2 million payout.
It is likely her home will be sold to pay back the Child Support Agency.
