Welfare crackdown as police target suburbs with most cheats
The Australian Federal Police will swoop in on welfare cheats in Sydney’s west as part of the latest move in Operation Integrity.
Mount Druitt and St Mary’s have been targeted during a two-day operation on Tuesday and Wednesday in a bid to recoup $100,000 of wrongful Centrelink payments funded by taxpayers.
The action is the latest from a joint task force from the Department of Human Services and the AFP, targeting “identified non-compliance hotspots”.
Taskforce Integrity identifies and targets geographic areas around Australia where data analysis points to a higher risk of non-compliance and suspected welfare fraud.
Letters have been sent out to thousands of people prior to the latest operation urging them to update the Department of Human Services about any changes to their personal circumstances which could affect the amount they are receiving.
Debts of up to $100,000 have been identified in the region before the Taskforce commenced ground operations.
Minister for Human Services Michael Keenan issued a stern warning to those who are trying to cheat the system.
“The message to those that don’t is that we will catch you, you will be made to repay the money and you may end up in prison,” Minister Keenan said in a press release.
“Australia has a generous welfare safety net, but it is vital that we maintain its integrity to ensure it remains viable for those who rely on it for support.”
He called on local residents to “dob-in” people they know who could be rorting the system.
Taskforce Integrity has been operating since 2015, and has helped raise almost $40 million in debts owed to the Department.
A notable success from NSW for the Department involved a couple who failed to declare they were in a relationship for about six years.
They were found to owe a combined debt of $200,000 after claiming Parenting Payment and Carers Payment at a single rate.
