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"The department was more interested in getting its money back [than sanctioning agencies] ... it's very politically-driven," the former investigator said.
'Some jobseekers believe other agencies have even forged their signatures and turned in false paperwork. A 2012 audit found only 40 per cent of fees paid to agencies could be verified.'
'One whistleblower from agency ORS Group, which turned over $66 million last year said details on forms were regularly whited out and replaced: “I would say about 80 per cent of claims that come through have some sort of manipulation on them”.'
Even if the company is not responsible for finding a jobseeker work it can still claim money from the government if it is able to get the signature of the jobseeker. “We were sort of told, you know, if the signature’s not on it, get it any way that you can,”
'Another former employee turned whistleblower, who did not want to be identified, said that free Coles Myer vouchers were used to lure clients back so ORS could get their signature, by suggesting to clients they were just signing for the vouchers.'
“We found that about a third of ... job matching claims in that period ... the job member had had no involvement in getting the person a job, something that they claimed money off the Commonwealth for,” Mr Whitchurch said news.com.au/finance/work/c…
This is from 2019: 'Out-of-work Australians have complained that private job service providers offered them cash and petrol to lie about their employment status to help falsely claim incentive payments' theguardian.com/australia-news…
'The heavily redacted jobs department document details one complaint from August 2018 alleging that a job-services provider “encouraged the job seeker to report employment details incorrectly to DHS] and offered the job seeker ‘free fuel’ as a reward”.
Another received in May 2017 alleged that an employment consultant “offered them cash to pretend that they are still in employment so they could receive a 26-week outcome claim”. That complaint is listed as “closed” although the outcome is redacted or not specified.
"Employers are eligible for wage subsidies of up to $10,000 if they hire new staff for at least 20 hours a week for 26 weeks." theguardian.com/australia-news…
'...It includes an allegation made in Queensland in October 2016 that a provider “is making false claims relating to job seeker employment including falsely creating wage subsidies and paying the money back into their own bank account without employer knowledge”.
'3 investigations were ongoing; 28 cases were “unsubstantiated or had insufficient evidence to proceed with further action”; and one matter concerning allegations of fraud “was substantiated and payment recovery was undertaken”.
“The host organisation was excluded for 12 months.'
“The host organisation was excluded for 12 months.'
