Centrelink has sent text messages to welfare recipients warning them that an Australian federal police welfare fraud taskforce is operating in their area, and to keep their personal information up to date. On Monday the opposition’s human services spokeswoman, Linda Burney, criticised Centrelink for “victimising and harassing vulnerable Australians” by sending welfare recipients letters carrying the Australian federal police logo and warning them that welfare fraud could result in prison and loss of payments. On Tuesday, Guardian Australia was alerted to text messages warning welfare recipients that Taskforce Integrity was in their area and “focusing on welfare fraud”. The inquiry also called for communication with welfare recipients to be improved, with the letters described as intimidating and confusing. She did not elaborate on how the taskforce identifies text recipients, only saying: “It targets geographic locations where a higher risk of non-compliance and welfare fraud has been identified”.

Source: The Guardian August 09, 2017 01:07 UTC