NDIS Infiltrated By Organised Crime Gangs Against Australians

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has told a review into NDIS integrity that criminals are paying cash kickbacks to participants and their families, and sometimes resorting to intimidation and threats of physical violence towards vulnerable people to rip off taxpayers.

False and inflated support claims, payment requests submitted while individuals were in hospital or prison, and claims made against expired plans are contributing to the problem, as stated by ACIC. Worse, existing data on banned and suspended providers already reveals fraud convictions, tax problems and rorting of other government programs, all tools that could be used to identify serious risk from gangs. The most at-risk targets include NDIS participants from non-English speaking backgrounds, those without wide support networks and people with physical or cognitive impairments.

A fraud taskforce is already at work in the NDIS. The ACIC says better use of NDIS data should be considered, along with moves to require providers to register with the government. The organization also adds that Labor could use reforms to the NDIS in the 12 May budget to increase registration requirements for providers working in the NDIS, which can be a change to the rules which would be complex and controversial.