The Hon Michael Keenan MP

MINISTER FOR HUMAN SERVICES

MINISTER ASSISTING THE PRIME MINISTER FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

MEDIA RELEASE
11 February 2018

$1.4 BILLION SAVED IN WELFARE FRAUD CRACKDOWN

Australian taxpayers have saved $1.4 billion through a Government crackdown on welfare
fraud and non-compliance during the past 18 months.

Australia has a generous social safety net reflective of our fundamental belief in a fair go.

While the majority of people do the right thing, there are those who set out to deliberately
defraud the system, robbing Australian families in the process.

The Coalition Government is committed to ensuring integrity and fairness in the welfare
system. We have zero tolerance to anyone who defrauds the system.

Between July 1, 2016 and the end of last year, the Department of Human Services
investigated more than 1,400 cases of potential welfare fraud, referring 956 of these to the
Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

One investigation uncovered a criminal illegally claiming a disability support pension by

using an alias, fleecing the system of more than $160,000. They were found guilty of fraud
and sentenced to three years in prison.

The Coalition Government has increased checks through data matching to over 600,000
every year, half a million more than when Labor were in Government in 2012-13.

In fact, the value of debts raised halved under Labor, plunging from $419 million in 2006-
2007, to $220 million in 2012-13.

Labor likes to pretend they care about hard-working Australian but their record on the
integrity of the welfare system is woeful. Only the Coalition can be trusted to protect the
incomes of Australian workers and ensure the integrity of our welfare system.

The Turnbull Government is serious about ensuring only those entitled to payments receive
them.

You can report suspected fraud online at humanservices.gov.au/fraud or by calling the

fraud tip off line on 131 524.

Media contacts: Michael Tetlow 0476 820 816, Dan Mumford 0438 077 656