https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/adf-brass-cant-reclaim-4-million-swindled-by-personnel/news-story/d875d476375e899710ef3a4c40444114

DEFENCE investigators have reclaimed less than a third of almost $4 million lost to fraud and corruption by armed forces­ personnel.

Just $1.1 million has been recovered­ of $3.9 million stolen­ from the ADF in the past five years through credit card fraud, entitlement abuse and dishonesty.

The Daily Telegraph revealed last week that at least $609,000 was lost in just the past year. Of that, $225,900 has been returned — and Defence­ will not say how many more investigations­ are still ongoing.


Just $1.1 million has been recovered­ of $3.9 million stolen­ from Australian Defence Force coffers.
More than 1380 investigations were opened in the past five years, with about a quarter completed and resulting in criminal or disciplinary action.

Senior officers and executive-level public servants have been the target of a number of investigations and audits.

Defence said the highest-ranked officer investigated in the past three years was O-7 — the fifth-highest rank, either a commodore, brigadier or air commodore depending on whether they served in the Army, Navy or Air Force. Defence will not release details of what ranks the current officers under investigation fall into.

In the year ending June 2016, Defence lost $535,766 but only recovered $202,879. Two years earlier the ADF suffered­ a massive $1.4 million loss due to fraud but recovered just $133,457.

A Defence spokeswoman said the ADF had “a zero-tolerance­ approach to fraud”.

“Individuals found to have caused a loss to Defence through fraud face a range of consequences, including termination of employment or reduction­ in rank, disciplinary action, criminal prosecution and debt recovery action,” the spokeswoman said.

Defence reports show of the 274 investigations completed last year, 24 per cent resulted in criminal, administrative or disciplinary action — 40 per cent the latter.

MORE NEWS: Australian Army bans male recruits to get female numbers up

About 30 instances were found to be of a “significant noncompliance with the finance­ law”.

Labor is demanding that Defence Minister Marise Payne detail how many fraud allegations remain ongoing and what is being done to rein in the waste of resources.




millions......looks like it is a real Horn of Plenty easy pickings.. in the Defence Dept..

really disheartening...