Australian government taskforce to investigate fraudulent flood claims
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The Australian government has set up a taskforce to investigate fraudulent flood claims after reports that some people in the north-eastern state of Queensland have been dishonestly claiming special assistance payments.
About $200 million has been paid out to more than 250,000 people affected by recent flooding across Australia.
Human Services Minister Tanya Plibersek says claims for financial assistance to help with the crisis are being examined by the taskforce and people trying to rort the system will be caught.
She says the vast majority of people who claim for disaster assistance are honest and are in urgent need of help.
But she says there's always a small number who try to exploit the situation and take money away from the people who really need it.
Each adult is entitled to $1000 and $400 for a child. People who have lost income can also claim the equivalent of the Newstart allowance for 13 weeks.
The minister says Centrelink and other authorities referred more than 3,000 customers for prosecutions last year with a conviction rate of 99 per cent.
The announcement came after National Party leader Warren Truss said disaster relief guidelines must be reviewed after assistance grants were possibly rorted in his electorate.
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