Tyron Whitten (WA, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

One Nation remains extremely concerned about the ongoing fraud and misuse within the NDIS. The most vulnerable people are being ripped off. Fifty-two billion of taxpayers' money is going into the NDIS scheme. It's one of the biggest areas of government spending. Hardworking Australians are being ripped off also. We must find out what the true scale of waste and fraud is. Australians deserve to know.

This motion is not about undermining the NDIS; it is about protecting it. Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar taken from someone who genuinely needs the support. Every instance of abuse erodes public trust, and every failure of oversight weakens the sustainability of the scheme for future generations. It is very clear the current safeguards are not working. It's very clear the compliance and auditing mechanisms are not fit for purpose in a scheme of this size.

We have seen individuals jailed for defrauding dozens of participants. We've seen millions of dollars siphoned off through organised schemes. We've seen providers billing for services never delivered and for people who have passed away. Authorities have already blocked tens of millions in suspicious claims, and hundreds of investigations are ongoing. That tells us one thing clearly: the problem is real. It is significant and it is growing.

A support worker was jailed for defrauding 90 NDIS participants out of about $190,000, using their personal details to submit false claims. A provider was sentenced for stealing $296,000 from vulnerable clients, including people with limited English, by billing for services never delivered. Providers have been reported for holding their clients hostage in homes around Australia. A major investigation in Sydney is targeting a $3½ million fraud scheme involving fake invoicing and suspected criminal networks. Earlier prosecutions include a $5.8 million fraud ring in New South Wales resulting in multiple jail sentences. Authorities have blocked $86 million in suspicious claims before payment. Criminal gangs have been linked to fraud attempts worth up to $50 million. This indicates that NDIS fraud is organised and industrial in scale.

One of my constituents, Mr Wayne Dewar, contacted my office to explain that he had asked the NDIS for psychological help for complex PTSD from being a first responder for 15 years. He was given a $288,000 plan to go fishing. He said, 'I wanted mental help from a psychologist. That's the only reason I applied. But, unfortunately, these funds are designated for other things and not for the mental health component I actually need. All I need is $38,000. I could save the taxpayer around $250,000.' I commend Mr Dewar for showing courage and speaking up about this.

One Nation has recommended this inquiry to shine a light on the financial impact of the waste, fraud and abuse on taxpayers and the impact of the diversion of resources away from Australians with genuine need. There need to be some serious legislative, administrative and governance reforms put in place to stop this rorting in its tracks. I think we can all agree that we would like to see our disabled community looked after but we do not want to see them ripped off. This inquiry would allow us to examine not only blatant fraud but also waste, overcharging and unnecessary services that drive up costs across the board.

We must also look at workforce qualifications. Participants deserve care from accountable, properly trained professionals. If standards are poorly enforced, both safety and value for money are compromised. Importantly, this motion recognises that responsibility does not sit with one group alone. It asks us to examine the roles of the National Disability Insurance Agency, providers, intermediaries and governance structures. Where are the gaps? Where is the system openly taken advantage of? Where must reform occur?

Then there is the question of public confidence. Australians overwhelmingly support the NDIS. One Nation supports the NDIS, but that support is not unconditional. It depends on trust—trust that funds are being used properly, that the system is fair and that those who exploit it will be held accountable. If that trust is eroded, the long-term viability of the scheme is placed in jeopardy. The inquiry also includes, in the terms of reference, the appropriate role of a royal commission into waste, fraud and abuse. Supporting this inquiry means accepting every allegation at face value. It means taking this fraud seriously enough to investigate it properly. It means standing up for the participants who rely on the scheme every day. It means standing up for the taxpayers who fund it. I commend this motion to the Senate.