The Australian Government welcomes 2 prison sentences handed down this week as unprecedented integrity actions continue to strengthen NDIS systems and protect participants.
A total of 20 criminals found by the courts to have exploited the NDIS have now been jailed since the Government established the Fraud Fusion Taskforce in November 2022, with combined sentences of more than 74 years.
Today, a 57-year-old Sydney woman was sentenced in the NSW District Court to 7 years and 6 months imprisonment after being found guilty of fraud and money laundering offences relating to more than $2.2 million obtained from the NDIS between 2020 and 2023. It is the heaviest sentence imposed for a NDIS criminal conviction.
Two properties and two bank accounts have been restrained, and an Australian Federal Police (AFP) operation is underway to seize assets allegedly obtained fraudulently.
On Monday, a 37-year-old Sydney man was sentenced on Monday in the Paramatta District Court to 4 years imprisonment for his role in an organised crime group that defrauded millions from the NDIS between 2017 and 2021.
He was the sixth and final member of the syndicate to be sentenced for offences relating to NDIS fraud, money laundering and GST fraud against the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). The man was also ordered to repay $30,675 to the Commonwealth.
In this case, more than $2 million in assets was seized during warrant searches, while more than $6 million in property has been restrained including bank accounts, cryptocurrency, luxury motor vehicles, gold, watches and jewellery.
In addition, gold bullion, cash, jewellery, watches and two luxury motor vehicles worth approximately $1 million have been forfeited to the Commonwealth. The proceeds of crime proceedings are ongoing.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) worked with Fraud Fusion Taskforce partners including the AFP, AUSTRAC, Services Australia, ATO, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, which banned the offenders jailed this week and associated provider businesses.
This week’s prison sentences are the latest evidence that the net is closing on people who seek to exploit the NDIS.
In August, a Victorian NDIS participant was arrested and charged for alleged fraud involving $700,000 obtained through his own plan while an Adelaide provider was charged over an alleged $5 million NDIS dishonesty plot with his sister, a former NDIA employee.
Since 2022, the Government has invested more than $1.1 billion in the Fraud Fusion Taskforce, Crack Down on Fraud and Payment Integrity programs, significantly strengthening the NDIA’s ability to prevent, detect and respond to fraud and non-compliance.
The Fraud Fusion Taskforce’s 25 member agencies work together to combat criminals abusing the NDIS and other government payment programs.
Since its creation in November 2022, the Taskforce has launched more than 660 investigations, referred more than 60 people for criminal prosecution, and NDIS integrity interventions already implemented by June 2026 are forecast to deliver more than $4.1 billion in benefits.
In all fraud investigations, the NDIA acts quickly to safeguard affected participants, stop risky claims through manual payment reviews and ensure NDIS plans are restored so impacted participants can continue to access the supports they rely on.
The NDIA referred both individuals in these matters to the Commonwealth Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
