James Hosking accused of stealing $8 million from National Gallery of Victoria

James Hosking, the former head of IT at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), has been charged with eight theft and misconduct offences. Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) alleges that Hosking stole approximately $8 million from the institution by issuing hundreds of fraudulent invoices over several years.

The alleged scheme involved fake invoices for mobile phones, a matter reportedly brought to the NGV’s attention by Telstra’s fraud squad in September 2025. While the NGV holds an art collection valued at $4.8 billion, officials stated that the collection was not affected by the fraud.

An employee was terminated in September 2025 following reports to Victoria Police and IBAC. The investigation was kept confidential among senior leadership until the charges were announced. Hosking is scheduled to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on October 20 and faces potential imprisonment if convicted.