The NDIS Fraud Taskforce is being strengthened to crack down on dodgy providers. NDIS Minister Linda Reynolds said the Taskforce will be extended indefinitely to protect the integrity of the scheme. “This extension sends a clear signal on the Morrison Government’s zero tolerance approach to fraud,” the minister said. “My priority is ensuring participants are protected from illegal or unscrupulous behaviour and that illegal activity will be detected and met with the full force of the law.”
State and territory disability ministers met recently with Minister Reynolds and agreed that she would bring forward legislation in the next Parliamentary session to further protect participants from unscrupulous provider behaviour.
The National Disability Insurance Agency has also established a new Compliance Response team, a 30-member group that will work to proactively identity potential non-compliance by both providers and participants through activities such as data analytics.
The NDIS Fraud Taskforce is a multi-agency partnership between the NDIA, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Services Australia, with a focus on high risk and serious criminal activity targeting the NDIS.
Established in 2018, the NDIS Fraud Taskforce has been integral in the investigation and successful prosecutions of criminals targeting NDIS participants.
Anyone with concerns that fraud is being committed against the NDIS should contact the NDIS fraud hotline on: 1800 650 717.