Prosecuting Welfare Fraud: What's Changed?

Authors

Scarlet I. Wilcock, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

127707

Publication Details

S. I. Wilcock, 'Prosecuting Welfare Fraud: What's Changed?' (2018) 4 (1) Social Security Rights Review 1-7.

Link to publisher version (URL)

Social Security Rights Review

Abstract

Between 2009-10 and 2016-17, the rate of Centrelink fraud prosecutions fell by around 80 per cent as a proportion of Centrelink customers (see Table 1 below). This is remarkable considering the national dialogue continues to promote a 'tough' response to welfare fraud. In fact, the Department of Human Services (DHS) (which absorbed Centrelink's functions and brand name in 2011), restated its 'zero tolerance' approach to fraud in its most recent Corporate Plan. How then can we explain this swift and dramatic decline in the prosecution rate?