During or following an emergency or disaster (including bushfires, cyclones, flooding or health emergencies), the Australian Government provides multiple forms of assistance in the form of Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payments.
In 2020-21, Services Australia delivered $230.1 billion in social support payments, including approximately $21.5 billion in disaster payments to people affected by COVID-19, floods, fires and cyclones.
Unfortunately, some people claimed payments when they weren’t affected by a disaster or emergency, or saw these payments as an opportunity for personal financial gain.
This guide provides financial indicators to help financial services businesses to detect and report potential fraud and misuse of taxpayer funds through Services Australia administered emergency and disaster payments.
Download: Financial crime guide – Preventing the exploitation of emergency and disaster support payments (PDF, 1.8 MB)
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