Lowlifes ripping off disaster payments
I’m always shocked that every time a disaster occurs, and people are handing out money and support to victims, there are also always people ready to step up and rip off the system.
According to the federal government, there are currently close to 1000 criminal investigations into people trying to rort disaster recovery and pandemic leave disaster payments, representing about $22 million.
Services Australia has already rejected $10 million in pandemic leave payments because of fraud.
Emergency Services Minister Senator Murray Scott summed it up well.
“It’s un-Australian and they should be ashamed of themselves,” he said.
Couldn’t agree more.
I agree that ripping off the public in any way is despicable and should attract very severe punishment. However, as evidenced by the incredibly sloppy legislation on Job-Keeper introduced by the last government, it is clear that at least part of the problem is the poor way in which the laws are written in the first place.
Unfortunately too when you have successive governments on both sides which create a hand-out rather than a self reliant and resilience culture it's not surprising that many people, especially the unscrupulous will pile in for whatever they can get.
The self-serving conduct of some politicians doesn't help either. It's called 'leadership' so others will follow.