Two men accused of defrauding National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants have been banned from delivering NDIS services and are now facing even more serious court penalties, NDIS Minister, the Hon. Bill Shorten MP, said today.
The pair, both from Adelaide, are accused of knowingly submitting false claims from the plans of NDIS participants despite not having delivered supports. It is alleged the pair made false claims totalling more than $465,000.
On Monday (28 August) one man was arrested and later charged with 19 fraud-related offences following a Fraud Fusion Taskforce operation, which focused on an Adelaide-based disability provider. The second man is expected to be summonsed to Adelaide Magistrates Court to face similar fraud-related offences.
The investigation, led by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), was supported by South Australian Police.
Earlier, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission issued banning orders against two companies and the alleged offenders linked to the provider, preventing them from being able to deliver services to NDIS participants.
“Attempting to gain money for one’s own personal benefit, money that is intended for Australians living with disability, is despicable,” Minister Shorten said.
“I’ve said before that the huge majority of NDIS providers do the right thing, which is what makes me, the rest of the disability sector and the Australian public so angry when one hears about those who seek to abuse the system.
This week’s action follows the sentencing of a man in northern Queensland earlier this month for fraud offences against the NDIS. The man was sentenced to prison for more than two years after pleading guilty to Dishonestly Obtaining a Gain.
The volume of fraud-related referrals being made to the NDIA continues to increase, with recent data showing the Agency received 5,540 tip-offs in this quarter – compared to 2,519 for the same period a year earlier.
“The NDIA assesses every tip-off they receive, so if our participants, their families and carers or anyone else suspects someone may be misappropriating NDIS funding, I implore them to report it.”
Anyone with information about suspected fraud involving the NDIS should contact the NDIS fraud reporting and scams helpline on 1800 650 717, or email fraudreporting@ndis.gov.au.
Anyone can contact the NDIS Commission if they are concerned about the way in which NDIS supports and services are being provided.
You can make a complaint by:
- Phoning: 1800 035 544 (free call from landlines) or TTY 133 677. Interpreters can be arranged.
- National Relay Service and ask for 1800 035 544.
- Completing a complaint contact form.
Details of compliance actions can be read on the NDIS Commission website.