Govt measures to combat welfare fraud
Minister for Human Services, Chris Bowen, has announced new measures to support compliance and tackle fraud in the social, health and welfare systems.
“This initiative is part of the Australian Government’s ongoing commitment to ensure our welfare system is fair and that taxpayers’ dollars go where they are intended – to those in need during difficult economic times,” Mr Bowen said.
The measures include improved prevention strategies and maximising the use of technology, data and statistical methods to better identify customers and providers at highest risk of non-compliance or fraudulent behaviour, such as:
- A debt prevention strategy which will involve contacting all high risk customers after 13 weeks of Newstart Allowance payments to remind them of their reporting obligations;
- The application of innovative statistical techniques to better identify high risk Newstart Allowance recipients for reviews;
- Improved data matching to help identify welfare payment recipients with undeclared foreign income; and
- The expansion of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs compliance program to help identify non-compliant and fraudulent behaviour.
These measures will help to identify incorrect payments while responding to immediate risks and thus minimise customer debt.
Importantly, they will also save Australian taxpayers $70.4 million over four years from 2009-10. This is on top of the $203 million that is estimated to be saved from the measures announced in the 2009-10 Budget.
“Australians can also do their bit to combat fraud by calling the Australian Government Services Fraud Tip-off Line on 13 15 24,” Mr Bowen said.
“Those who deliberately attempt to defraud their fellow Australians will be caught and pursued to the full extent of the law.”
