Bill Shorten issues warning after $3.3m NDIS fraud

Three men will face court later this year after allegedly submitting false claims to the NDIS – totalling millions of dollars.

Three men accused of defrauding the National Disability Insurance Scheme out of more than $3.3 million will face court later this year.

The arrests have prompted a stern warning from the federal government.

It’s alleged the three men, who know each other, set up or acquired businesses as disability providers, and proceeded to submit false claims for NDIS services that were never provided.

Under the government anti-fraud taskforce, search warrants were carried out on Tuesday morning across three separate residences in Western Sydney.

The three men are accused of a $3.3 million fraud involving the NDIS. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

One man was arrested and charged while the other two men were issued court attendance notices for offences including “obtain financial gain by deception”, and “dealing in proceeds of crime”.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten said the latest arrests – following that of a Brisbane man earlier this year for alleged fraud against the NDIS – should serve as a warning.

“The Fraud Fusion task-force is now able to draw on greater cross-agency collaboration, which means wider knowledge and a better ability to detect and catch any criminal who targets the NDIS,” Mr Shorten said.

“My warning to any criminal attempting to defraud the NDIS – get off our scheme.”

The man initially arrested will appear in court on April 4, while his alleged co-conspirators will appear on March 21.