Media release from the Minister 2 August 2021
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is extending the NDIS Fraud Taskforce to crack down on dodgy providers and ensure participants get the supports they need.
Minister for the NDIS, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC today announced the Taskforce will be extended indefinitely to protect the integrity of the Scheme and the participants it supports. “This extension sends a clear signal on the Australian Government’s zero tolerance approach to fraud,” Minister Reynolds said. “Participants, their families and carers must feel confident that the NDIA is preventing, detecting, and responding to fraud. “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.”
In July 2021, state and territory disability ministers met with Minister Reynolds and agreed that she would bring forward legislation in the next Parliamentary session to further protect participants from unscrupulous provider behaviour. Earlier this year, the Taskforce carried out its largest-ever operation following an investigation into an alleged criminal syndicate. Operation Pegasus resulted in the arrests of six people, who are accused of alleged multi-million dollar fraud against the NDIS.
The NDIA 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 National Disability Insurance Agency (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 reporting and scams helpline on 1800 650 717.