A joint taskforce set up by the Department of Human Services and the Australian Federal Police to tackle welfare fraud is focusing its attention on the Australian Capital Territory and nearby New South Wales city, Queanbeyan.
During its visit this month, Taskforce Integrity will conduct operations in the ACT areas of Gungahlin and Tuggeranong as well as in Queanbeyan.
Leader of the taskforce, AFP Commander Kate Buggy said letters sent to current welfare recipients in the ACT and Queanbeyan reminded them of their responsibilities to keep their personal circumstances up-to-date.
“Since its inception in 2015, Taskforce Integrity has completed over 42,000 compliance reviews and raised debts of almost $40 million in taxpayer funds owed to the Commonwealth, more than a quarter of which has been identified in NSW,” Commander Buggy said.
“Taskforce Integrity is focused on enforcing the law and targeting people who willfully commit welfare fraud,” she said.
“It does not target or aim to penalise those who make genuine mistakes.”
She said that while the vast majority of people did the right thing, some people deliberately defrauded the system, and others needed a reminder to keep their details up to date.
“If taskforce investigations reveal evidence of criminal behaviour, the matter is referred to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, where further action may be taken,” Commander Buggy said.
