Bill Shorten reveals people with disabilities ‘ripped off’ of $465,000 in NDIS cash
Two Adelaide men are expected to face fraud charges over people with disabilities allegedly being defrauded of more than $465,000.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
People with disabilities have been defrauded of more than $465,000 by two Adelaide men, police will allege, in false NDIS claims for services that were not delivered.
The two men have been banned from delivering NDIS services and banning orders have been issued against two companies linked to them, National Disability Insurance Scheme Minister Bill Shorten revealed.
In a joint operation with SA Police, federal authorities on Monday arrested and later charged one man with 19 fraud-related offences.
This followed a Fraud Fusion Taskforce operation focusing on an Adelaide-based disability provider.
A second man is expected to be summonsed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court to face similar fraud-related offences.
The banning orders prevent the men and their two associated companies 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,” Mr 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.”
Latest figures show SA has 52,501 active NDIS participants with approved plans, plus another 1358 children accessing early connections. As at June 30, there were 610,502 active NDIS participants nationally.
Mr Shorten said the volume of fraud-related referrals being made to the National Disability Insurance Agency continued to increase – the Agency received 5540 tip-offs in this quarter – compared to 2519 for the same period a year earlier.
The most recent banning orders in SA listed on the NDIS Provider Register were on July 28, when Modbury-based People Come First Incorporated was permanently prohibited from being involved with NDIS support or services, effective from August 11.
A five-year ban, also effective from August 11, was issued on July 28 to Adrian Bembrick, of Modbury.
Australian Almonds brings the star power for global push
Australian almond growers are eyeing new overseas markets as exports boom and their board has appointed celebrity chef Poh as its first global ambassador.
Read more
Prominent GP resigns: Who is Dr Taylor?
A prominent South East GP has resigned after restrictions were placed on his registration – but who is Dr Jeffrey Taylor?
Read more