Detecting and preventing welfare fraud / Tim Prenzler.

Canberra : Australian Institute of Criminology, 2011

79175

Welfare fraud -- Australia.

Another Trends & Issues paper (Prenzler 2011) identified key dimensions of welfare fraud in Australia and some of the social issues associated with efforts to reduce fraud. The present paper makes a more detailed examination of detection and prevention strategies, reporting on a range of initiatives that have been introduced progressively over the last three decades. These initiatives appear to be consistent with trends in comparable jurisdictions. Similarly, policymakers and anti-fraud practitioners in Australia are faced with challenges apparent in other welfare systems internationally. Strict eligibility tests, close monitoring of welfare recipients and a robust prosecution policy allegedly deter genuine applicants and are overly intrusive and punitive. At the same time, if all available detection and prevention techniques are not utilised, fraud can become prevalent and public confidence in the integrity of the welfare system may be reduced. This paper finds that the current suite of anti-fraud measures is successful in detecting numerous frauds and reducing losses through recoveries. At the same time, the enlargement of initial prevention measures is likely to see increasing interest and commitment from government.

Title from title caption of PDF document (viewed on July 18, 2011).

"June 2011".

Includes bibliographical references (p. 6).

1836-2206