Conference presentation
Changes to welfare fraud rates in Australia: Crime prevention or decriminalisation?
Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology (ANZSOC) Conference, 27th (Sydney, Australia, 01-Oct-2014–03-Oct-2014)
2014
Abstract
This paper evaluates the factors behind changes in welfare fraud referrals and convictions in Australia from 2009-10 to 2012-13. Official rates of suspected and proven fraud fell by approximately 75% across a three-year period. A number of competing explanations are considered for this trend. These include (1) the impact of case law in overturning the legal basis of prosecutions, (2) a deliberate policy shift by Centrelink to focus investigations and prosecutions on more serious cases, and (3) the introduction of an early intervention scheme based on direct personal contact with customers to remind them of their reporting and compliance obligations. Additional issues addressed include sentencing consistency and appropriateness, and gender dimensions of offending.
Details
- Title
- Changes to welfare fraud rates in Australia: Crime prevention or decriminalisation?
- Authors
- Timothy Prenzler (Author) - Griffith University
- Conference details
- Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology (ANZSOC) Conference, 27th (Sydney, Australia, 01-Oct-2014–03-Oct-2014)
- Date published
- 2014
- Organisation Unit
- School of Law and Society; School of Law and Criminology - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449161502621
- Output Type
- Conference presentation
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