Tens of thousands of fictitious flood victim claims have been lodged this year, and tens of millions in aid have been turned down.
According to Federal Government Services Minister Bill Shorten, money is being paid to those who need it, but some people are abusing the system.
“I believe that a taxpayer-funded safety net needs to reach those who need it, and it really makes my blood boil to think that some people would take advantage of other people’s misery to steal $1,000,” he said.
“What is happening to people? How are people able to think that way?
One of the various government-funded programmes is the Disaster Recovery Grant, which offers 13 weeks of help at the Jobseeker’s Allowance rate.
Between February and July, 3.5 million requests for aid were made in the wake of the floods. 27,770 cases were identified as suspicious, and as a result, $10.5 million in funding was declined.
He also mentioned the 793 active criminal investigations.
Australia’s federal government provided more than $1 billion in flood relief this year.