New taskforce to hunt WorkCover fraudsters after $250,000 swindled

Queensland has launched a dedicated taskforce to hunt down WorkCover fraudsters after the state was swindled out of more than $250,000 in bogus compensation claims.

Industrial Relations Minister Jarrod Bleijie. Picture: Liam Kidston

A taskforce has been assigned to crack down on Queenslanders making fraudulent WorkCover claims, after the state government was swindled out of more than $250,000 in compensation.

The state government will today introduce a range of reforms to weed out WorkCover fraudsters, including a tip-off form for employees to flag suspected fraud, an education program for fraud awareness and a dedicated taskforce for investigating and prosecuting fraudulent claims.

From 2026, the government will also launch a “Fraud Awareness Week” with events to educate staff and an internal hub for fraud-related resources and information packs.

It comes after the Courier-Mail revealed WorkCover staff were being pressured to quickly close claims through internal targets and prize rewards while businesses owners across the state resorted to hiring private investigators to expose bogus claims.

In the 2024–25 financial year, the Office of Industrial Relations investigated 164 suspected fraud cases and initiated six prosecutions, recovering more than $250,000 in fraudulent claims.

Industrial Relations Minister Jarrod Bleijie said the government was taking a zero-tolerance stance against those who cheated the system.

“Queensland businesses and taxpayers deserve better and we remain steadfast in ensuring Queensland’s workers’ compensation scheme is fair, sustainable, and protected, delivering confidence for workers, employers and taxpayers,” he said.

“We are sending a clear message – if you commit fraud, you will be caught, prosecuted, and held accountable.”

Mr Bleijie in April announced the government would not raise WorkCover premiums this year, freezing the rate at $1.34 per $100 of wages for the 2025-26 financial year.

He criticised the former Labor government for raising the average premium 12 per cent in three years, but said Queensland still had one of the lowest average premium rates in the country.

WorkCover last year supported 74,000 Queenslanders who were injured at work.

Originally published as New taskforce to hunt WorkCover fraudsters after $250,000 swindled