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SCRAPPING REVIEWS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO HARDWORKING AUSTRALIAN TAXPAYERS
THE HON MICHAEL SUKKAR MP
Shadow Minister for Social Services
Shadow Minister for NDIS
Shadow Minister for Housing
Shadow Minister for Homelessness
MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday, 12 October 2022
SCRAPPING REVIEWS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO HARDWORKING AUSTRALIAN TAXPAYERS
If reports are correct, the Albanese Government is shamefully putting its political interests ahead of hard-working Australian taxpayers who fund our social services system, by refusing to investigate potential welfare overpayments and in some cases fraud, through its decision to end nearly 200,000 reviews that have not been finalised.
The Albanese Government believes it is too challenging to find relevant historical information relating to potential welfare overpayments. What’s more likely is that Labor is simply just putting its political objectives ahead of the national interest in the lead up to their wasteful $30 million Royal Commission into the Online Compliance Intervention scheme.
Labor clearly does not want genuine cases of fraud or overpayment arising during their politicised Royal Commission.
At a time when everyday Australians are struggling with cost of living pressures being exacerbated by this Government, and being told to expect difficult decisions in the upcoming Budget, the Albanese Government should not be treating these Australians with utter contempt.
All Governments have a responsibility to collect any welfare overpayments. Compliance activity, which discourages fraud in our welfare system, should continue for past and future welfare payment recipients where there is a reason to believe an overpayment has been made.