How to Report Fraud and Corruption

What is fraud?

The Commonwealth defines fraud as ‘dishonestly obtaining (including attempting to obtain) a gain or benefit, or causing a loss or risk of loss, by deception or other means’. In this definition, gain or benefit can be money or objects, power, status or information.

What is corruption?

The Commonwealth defines corruption as any conduct that does or could compromise the integrity, accountability, or probity of public administration. Corruption may be criminal or non-criminal in nature and may affect any aspect of public administration.

Fraud and Corruption Control Strategy

The department is committed to preventing and controlling fraud and corruption. This is best achieved through the collective effort of staff, contractors, external service providers and the community. The department's Fraud and Corruption Control Strategy provides more information about how the department manages fraud and corruption.

Reporting fraud and corruption

The department acknowledges that it cannot avoid or prevent all fraud or corruption risk. It does not tolerate dishonest, fraudulent or corrupt behaviour. If you suspect fraud or corruption relating to the department, including by one of its contractors, providers or employees, you should report it.

What kinds of fraud and corruption can the department investigate?

The department can investigate any suspected fraudulent or corrupt activity relating to the department. This can include fraud and corruption within or against a program administered by the department, and fraud or corruption committed by departmental staff or contractors.

Examples of the types of fraudulent and corrupt activities that the department can investigate include:

• falsified information being provided to the department, or its contracted service providers, to meet eligibility requirements for a payment or benefit
• misuse of departmental information, including unauthorised access of information
• manipulation of procurement activities
• misuse of departmental funds or assets
• invoicing for services that were not delivered
• cartel behaviour, or collusion between businesses and employees.

What kinds of fraud and corruption can’t the department investigate?

The department can only investigate fraudulent or corrupt activity within or against the department and the programs it administers. Fraud and corruption allegations relevant to other departments and agencies must be handled by them.

Fraud and corruption relating to Centrelink, Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule, child support payments and other Commonwealth benefits can be reported via the Services Australia website.

Fraud and corruption relating to visas and Australian residency, including that involving false education documentation, can be reported via the Department of Home Affairs website.

Suspected scams, including education related scams, can be reported via the Scamwatch website.

Suspected fake or falsified education or qualification documents can be reported to the relevant issuing institution, or to the business or service that is relying on the validity of the document.

Reports relating to underpayment superannuation or fraudulent tax activity, can be made to the Australian Taxation Office.

Workplace issues including underpayment, termination, or breaches of conditions can be reported to the Fair Work Ombudsman.

How to report fraud and corruption

You can provide information about suspected fraud and corruption related to the department by:

• email – fraud@dewr.gov.au
• phone – (02) 6240 8888, where you can leave a detailed voicemail message and contact details
• anonymously – report through our online reporting tool, Whispli
• public interest disclosure – current and former public officials can report disclosable conduct, including fraud and corruption, to an Authorised Officer by contacting PID@dewr.gov.au.

What information should I provide?

The department takes all allegations of fraud and corruption seriously. When making a report you are encouraged to provide the following information:

• Who is involved? Include as much detail as you can such as the name of the person or organisation, date of birth, addresses and phone numbers.
• What fraudulent or corrupt activities do you think have occurred? Please provide details of your concerns, including how, when and where it occurred.
• How does the fraud or corruption relate to the department (if known)?
• How did you come across this information?
• Your contact details (you can provide information anonymously).

What will happen next?

The department will make appropriate enquiries into your allegations. Where fraudulent or corrupt activity is suspected the department will take action which may include administrative response, investigation, or referral to appropriate agencies. The department may not provide you with details of the outcome of these enquiries.

In particular, please note that if your allegation involves another individual, the department may not be able to give you information about the conduct or outcome of the investigation due to the department's obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.

Privacy notice

Your personal information is protected by law, including the Privacy Act 1988, and is collected by the department for the purposes of investigating allegations of suspected fraud and corruption.

If the information you provide does not relate to the activities or functions of the department, we may disclose the information to other Commonwealth, State or Territory bodies (including law enforcement bodies) for appropriate assessment or action.

Your information may also be used by the department or given to other parties if it is required or authorised by law.

For more information about how the department manages personal information (including information on accessing or correcting information) and how to make a complaint, please view our full privacy policy or you can request a copy from the department by sending an email to privacy@dewr.gov.au.

Safeguards for persons reporting suspected fraud or corruption

Reports of suspected fraud or corruption – and any subsequent investigations – are handled by the department as sensitively and as confidentially as possible.

If you are a public official, the information you provide relates to disclosable conduct, and you make your report to an Authorised Officer, protection provisions under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 (PID Act) may be available to you. Contact PID@dewr.gov.au to make a disclosure.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission investigates cases of serious or systemic corruption. Provisions under the National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022 (the NACC Act) may be available to you. Please visit the National Anti-Corruption Commission website for further information.