A Darwin man who allegedly used his position as a public servant to defraud the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is expected to face Darwin Local Court today (19 February, 2026).
The man, 47, a National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) employee, allegedly used his position to refer vulnerable members of the community to a NDIS provider business he co-owned.
The Fraud Fusion Taskforce, which comprises 24 agencies, started an investigation in October 2025.
Since 2019, the man's business has claimed more than $28 million from NDIS funding, with about $5 million of the claims identified as suspicious.
The AFP executed search warrants at a Lee Point residence, Durack business and Yarrawonga businesses yesterday (18 February, 2026) with the assistance of Northern Territory Police Force, the NDIA and Services Australia.
Investigators seized documents and electronic devices, including laptops. The devices will be subject to further digital forensic examination and the investigation remains ongoing.
The man was arrested by members of the AFP Fraud Fusion Taskforce and charged with:
- One count of obtaining a financial advantage by deception contrary to section 134.2 of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years' imprisonment.
- Two counts of general dishonesty causing a loss contrary to section 135.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years' imprisonment.
- One count of abuse of public office, contrary to section 142.2 of the Criminal Code (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment.
- One count of unauthorised use or disclosure of protected Agency information contrary to Section 62 of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment.
AFP Detective Inspector Aidan Milner said the AFP was committed to stopping criminal exploitation of Commonwealth payments designed to help those in genuine need, especially by those in positions of trust.
"Defrauding the Commonwealth ultimately steals the money of hard-working Australians and prevents those with genuine needs receiving the care they desperately need," Det-Insp Milner said.
"The AFP and its partners are focused on identifying fraud in Commonwealth programs and will relentlessly pursue those who seek to exploit our government social programs for their own benefit."
A spokesperson from the NDIA's Fraud Fusion Taskforce and Integrity Capability Division said abusing access or authority within the NDIA was a serious crime and the agency acts decisively when suspected wrongdoing is identified.
"Our investigations led to this arrest. Attempts to defraud the NDIS and participants will be detected and the full weight of the law applied," the spokesperson said.
"When red flags are identified, we act swiftly to protect NDIS participants and the scheme's integrity, working closely with our Fraud Fusion Taskforce partners."
The NDIA has disrupted more than 2,500 NDIS providers with a pattern of incorrect or non-compliant claims or other significant risk indicators since the Fraud Fusion Taskforce was created in November 2022.
The FFT is a multi-agency taskforce comprising 24 agencies, co-led by the NDIA and Services Australia, and including the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) and the AFP, focusing on high-risk and serious criminal activity targeting government programs designed to help those most in need.
