Chapter 1

Annual reports of departments

Department of Veterans' Affairs—Data-matching program-Report on progress 2008-2010

1.1         The Department of Veterans' Affairs, data matching program—report on progress 2008–2010 was tabled in the Senate on 16 November 2010. This is the nineteenth report on progress of the Data Matching Program presented to Parliament by the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

1.2        In the 1990–91 Budget, the then Government announced new measures to detect incorrect payment in the income support system.[1] This involved a program of computerised matching of identity and income data held by a limited number of government agencies.[2] The legal authority for data matching is contained in the Data Matching Program (Assistance and Tax) Act 1990. The Data Matching Program plays an important role in ensuring the integrity of payments made to the veteran community. The annual report focuses on the operation of the program within the Department of Veterans' Affairs from 2008–2010.

Prosecution Statistics

1.3        The Department noted that in the year 2009–2010, ten cases were referred to the Compliance Section, one case was referred to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) and zero cases were successfully prosecuted. The Department also provided the following prosecution statistics for the reporting period:

(a) one case was dismissed by the CDPP due to 'insufficient evidence' or 'not in the public interest';

(b) six cases are still under investigation by the Compliance Section; and

(c) six cases were finalised by the Compliance Section without CDPP referral.

1.4        The report noted that:

The Department's role in the prosecution process is to investigate cases where it appears an offence may have been committed and to forward these cases, if warranted, to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) for a decision on whether prosecution action should proceed...For the last three years any suspected fraud cases detected were referred to the Compliance Section of the Business Integrity and Legal Services Group for an initial case assessment, prioritisation, and further action if appropriate.[3]

1.5        The committee finds that the Department has submitted a report on progress that meets the reporting requirements for a Commonwealth department.

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