NDIA Accountability Project

This project is in DRAFT

FOI 21/22-0054 – Information related to NDIA staff fraud from 1 January 2019 to 15 July 2021

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Our Reference: Response to FOI 21/22-0054

FOI 21/22-0054 – Information related to NDIA staff fraud from 1 January 2019 to 15 July 2021

Scope

  1. The number of reports of fraud against NDIA staff (APS and Contractors) between 1 Jan 2019 and 15 Jul 21
  2. The number of the above reports investigated.
  3. The number of those investigations that found fraud.
  4. The reasons for the above investigations found to be fraudulent.
  5. The amount of money found to be fraudulently used by NDIA Staff during the same time period.
  6. The number of random fraud audits of NDIA staff conducted during the above time period.
  7. The number of those audits that revealed fraud
  8. The amount of money for that fraud
  9. The reasons that the money was found to be used fraudulently.
  10. The numbers of dismissals and criminal prosecutions of NDIA staff during that time
  11. The numbers of alleged fraud actions in that time period that were appealed
  12. The results of the appeals.”

Response

  1. The number of reports of fraud against NDIA staff (APS and Contractors) between 1 Jan 2019 and 15 Jul 21. The NDIA has a dedicated telephone line and email address in place (Fraud Reporting & Scams Helpline) where suspected non-compliance or fraud against the NDIS can be reported.

Between 1 January 2019 and 15 July 2021 the NDIA recorded 252 tip-offs where a staff member was the primary subject of the report. Tip-offs received do not necessarily constitute instances of fraud.

  1. The number of the above reports investigated. All reports received through the Fraud Reporting & Scams Helpline are taken seriously. All allegations received are assessed to determine the most appropriate course of action.

To support fraud prevention the NDIA has developed the Compliance and Enforcement Framework (the Framework). The Framework is intended to provide an overview of compliance and enforcement options, as well as provide information on when the use of each option is appropriate.

These options may include one or more of the following compliance activities: targeted engagement (the Agency’s first response when addressing inadvertent non-compliance); a desktop compliance review (used to address opportunistic non-compliance); or a fraud investigation (to address deliberate fraud with a criminal intent).

During the time period indicated above, two fraud reports involving allegations against members of staff were the subject of criminal investigations, other matters may proceed to investigation at some future point.

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Our Reference: Response to FOI 21/22-0054

3. The number of those investigations that found fraud.

Nil. The two criminal investigations commenced during the time period did not substantiate fraud to the required criminal threshold and both matters were subsequently referred for other treatment.

4. The reasons for the above investigations found to be fraudulent.

This is not applicable. See response to Question 3.

5. The amount of money found to be fraudulently used by NDIA Staff during the same time period.

This is not applicable. See response to Question 3.

6. The number of random fraud audits of NDIA staff conducted during the above time period.

In line with the Agency’s Compliance and Enforcement Framework, (see response to question 2) the Agency utilises a number of strategies to prevent, detect, and respond to fraud and corruption. One strategy employed is conducting random fraud audits.

In the time period indicated, five random fraud audits of NDIA staff were conducted.

7. The number of those audits that revealed fraud

No fraud or corruption was identified against the NDIS Scheme. .

8. The amount of money for that fraud

Not applicable. See response to question 7.

9. The reasons that the money was found to be used fraudulently.

Not applicable. See response to question 7.

10. The numbers of dismissals and criminal prosecutions of NDIA staff during that time

No criminal prosecutions of NDIA staff in relation to fraud were launched in the given time period.

11. The numbers of alleged fraud actions in that time period that were appealed

Nil.

12. The results of the appeals

This is not applicable. See response to question 11.

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