A former National Gallery of Victoria IT chief accused of stealing about $8 million in mobile phones has appeared in court, where his lawyer described him as a hard-working family man who had co-operated with investigators.
James Michael Hosking faces seven theft charges and one charge of misconduct in public office over allegations that phones were purchased through an NGV account and sold on between September 2019 and September 2025.
Hosking was released on bail after appearing at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. He must surrender his passport to police within 24 hours, cannot attend an international departure point and is prohibited from leaving Australia while the case continues.
Former NGV IT chief faces theft allegations
His lawyer, Josh Smith, said Hosking had been “incredibly co-operative” with the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission’s investigation and intended to continue assisting authorities.
“He’s led a really sort of ordinary, law-abiding life in every other aspect except for this [alleged offending],” Smith said.
“He is a hard-working family man who has found the whole process extremely difficult on him and his family, but he is facing the music and hoping to finalise the matter as quickly as possible.”
IBAC established Operation Sonder in September 2025 to investigate allegations of corrupt conduct involving the theft of property and misuse of Hosking’s position at the gallery. The commission also alleges he used his position to conceal the offending.
Investigators raided Hosking’s apartment on September 13 last year and seized multiple devices. Smith said the father of two had been forthcoming in interviews and had responded to investigators’ calls and emails during the following year.
“It’s obviously a very serious crime, and happened over a long period of time. The allegations are very serious,” Smith said.
The court gave police until December to file their evidence. Hosking is due to face court again in January.
The NGV said the employee was dismissed in September 2025 after the alleged conduct was reported to police and IBAC. The gallery’s art collection was not affected, according to information contained in the investigation.
The allegations are understood to involve fake invoices for mobile phones. No new details were aired during Tuesday’s hearing.
