The Fraud Fusion Taskforce has sent 17 convicted NDIS criminals to jail for more than 60 years, since its establishment by the Australian Government.
The 25-member taskforce, co-led by the NDIA and Services Australia, brings together elite intelligence, data forensics and investigative powers to disrupt serious organised crime targeting government payment programs.
Every integrity action aims to protect the safety and wellbeing of NDIS participants, and the NDIA helps participants move to new providers where appropriate.
Jail sentences have been handed down in 17 of the 26 NDIS-related criminal convictions secured since December 2022 with the longest sentence being 6 years imposed on 2 offenders. Other offenders were sentenced to intensive correction orders, fined or ordered to repay stolen funds.
The Fraud Fusion Taskforce has contributed to 7 successful prosecutions in NDIS cases this financial year alone – with a further 7 matters where guilt was established in 2025-26 awaiting sentencing in coming months.
The NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 before Parliament aims to further strengthen protections for participants and the integrity of the Scheme.
It creates new civil penalties enforceable by the NDIA and grants the Agency sweeping new powers to investigate, fine and force people to comply with the rules, particularly around NDIS payments.
These include:
- Power to issue fines
- use of warrants to enter and search premises
- haul people in for questioning
- ability to request key data.
Taken together, the new powers will give the NDIA some of the strongest powers to deal with non-compliance among Commonwealth social services agencies.
Timely passage of this legislation is essential to the Australian Government’s effort to crack down on fraud.
In this financial year to 31 May, NDIS-related Fraud Fusion Taskforce action has:
- 15 years combined jail imposed on criminals caught exploiting the NDIS
- 50 search warrants executed with Taskforce partners to investigate more than $118 million dollars in NDIS claims
- 39 individuals involved in 24 investigations referred to CDPP for criminal prosecution
- 15 fraud cases currently before the courts and evidence is being assessed by CDPP for 24 further individuals
- more than 88,000 tip-offs assessed for potential fraud or non-compliance against the Scheme
- the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has undertaken 75 Fraud Fusion Taskforce related compliance actions against providers and individuals including banning orders and suspensions.
Since the Taskforce was established in November 2022:
- Courts have ordered the return of $3.5 million illegally obtained by criminals
- $50 million worth of assets linked to NDIS fraud have been seized by the AFP and state-based partners, including properties, gold and silver bullion and luxury vehicles
- more than 170 search warrants have been executed supporting NDIA investigations
- more than 660 investigations have been launched across 120-plus operations
- over 400 investigations are connected to the NDIS
- 60 individuals have been referred to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) for criminal prosecution.
The Australian Government also wrote to the Joint Standing Committee into the NDIS to propose an inquiry into NDIS fraud. The Inquiry is currently underway.
The Australian Government’s NDIS Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Act 2026 (passed in April 2026) has strengthened protections for people with disability and introduced tougher penalties for those seeking to exploit the Scheme.
The new laws make it a criminal offence to provide supports that require registration without being registered or to breach a banning order. Both offences carry maximum penalties of 5 years’ imprisonment.
They also increase fines by up to 40 times for serious code of conduct breaches to more than $15 million, when serious misconduct leads to death or serious injury.
Since 2022, the Government has invested more than $1.1 billion in the Fraud Fusion Taskforce, Crack Down on Fraud and Payment Integrity programs, which have dramatically improved the NDIA’s abilities to detect high-risk provider behaviour.
This includes new investments in the 2026-27 Budget of:
- $280.1 million to continue the Fraud Fusion Taskforce and invest in the NDIA to continue to detect and respond to fraud and non-compliant payments.
- $358.5 million to build a new enrolment and digital payments system with major upgrades to NDIS claims and payments systems commencing from July 2026 with full rollout expected by end of 2030.
Quotes attributable to NDIS Minister, Senator Jenny McAllister:
“If you seek to drain the plans of people with disability, then we are coming for you."
“There is nothing lower than trying to steal money from a disabled person. Criminals who try to rip off NDIS participants will be thrown in jail."
“The Fraud Fusion Taskforce is knocking on more doors, uncovering more fraud and putting more criminals before the courts."
“The numbers don’t lie, two-thirds of convicted NDIS criminals have been put behind bars."
“These investigations are a direct result of the investments that we're making in enforcement capability so we can get rid of fraud in the NDIS and kick out the criminals, fraudsters, grifters and shonks for good."
“The Australian Government wants to give the NDIA the powers it needs to protect Aussies with a disability from fraudsters so we can protect the Scheme and make sure people get the support they need.”