Ex-Essendon bosses covered up alleged healthcare rebate fraud, two former staff members claim

EXCLUSIVE: FORMER Essendon staff members Dean Wallis and John Elliott claim that previous club bosses covered up an alleged healthcare rebate fraud.

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TWO former Essendon staff members claim that club officials covered up an alleged healthcare rebate fraud.

Dean Wallis, who played in the Bombers’ 1993 and 2000 premiership sides, and long-serving football department assistant John Elliott allege in signed statements that a financial scam was masterminded by one of the club’s senior staff.

In a statement given to a compensation claim investigator in January, Mr Wallis says he reported a medical provider to club bosses after players had flagged concerns rebates had been claimed for consultations he had not held with them.

Dual Essendon premiership hero Dean Wallis is pursuing WorkSafe compensation actions against the club. Picture: Mark Wilson

Former Essendon team services manager John Elliott is pursuing WorkSafe compensation actions against the club. Picture: Supplied

“Players hadn’t seen (name removed for legal reasons) but he had taken the players’ full rebate amount, which made the players extremely angry,” Mr Wallis says.

He adds that he had raised the issue up to 10 times and claims he was repeatedly told: “ ‘It’s all above board. It’s ‘corridor consultation. Keep your nose out of it’. I continued to raise my concerns until I was terminated in October 2013.’’

Mr Elliott also says he became aware of the alleged fraud in August-September 2012, and was told: “Never speak of the issue again.”

In one exchange with management, Mr Wallis says: “(Chief executive) Mr Ian Robson stood up and verbally abused me in (an) aggressive manner and stated words to the effect of ‘I’m more red and black than you will ever be’, ‘Who do you think you are?’, ‘You will only ever eventuate to being a bush-hack coach’.

“Mr Robson was yelling and swearing at me for approximately two to three minutes.”

Mr Elliott alleges he was told in August 2015 he would likely be contacted by a WorkSafe investigator over the supplements program, which ran from late 2011 into the 2012 season. He alleges he was told: “It would be in my best interests not to say anything.”

The statements were given by Mr Wallis and Mr Elliott to an investigator acting on behalf of insurance broker Gallagher Bassett.

The two men declared: “This statement made by me accurately sets out the evidence which I would be prepared, if necessary, to give in court as a witness ... I make it knowing that, if it is tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to prosecution if I have wilfully stated anything in it which I know to be false or do not believe to true.’’

Gallagher Bassett has since ruled that the claims did not warrant WorkSafe payouts, but did not pass judgment on the validity of the allegations.

Mr Elliott is appealing the decision to the Accident Compensation Conciliation Service, while Mr Wallis is assessing his options.

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