Shorten and ALP will miss out when these welfare voters go to jail

Investigators fear this long-running scam, similar to others which have previously been reported on various television programs, is just the tip of the iceberg

from the ABC

  • NSW Police yesterday arrested 18 people who were allegedly involved in the scheme
  • The Commonwealth Child Care Subsidy Scheme was designed to help reduce the financial burden on low and middle-income families
  • Detectives are investigating other childcare providers in NSW

A childcare provider allegedly filed claims for non-existent children and bought the identities of parents as a way to defraud millions of dollars from the Federal Government.

According to its website, Red Roses Family Day Care — which has locations in Sydney and Wollongong — promised to provide “high-quality, home-care options for children between the ages of birth to 12 years”.

But the family-run company allegedly made fraudulent claims worth up to $5 million from Government childcare programs, including the Commonwealth’s Child Care Subsidy Scheme (CCSS).

More than 170 Muslims have been targeted by NSW police who have ripped off the Child Care system by more than $4million in eight months. One Muslim woman had $35,000 cash in her purse and was claiming Centrelink payments. This huge scam is a direct result of ALP/Greens immigration policy. (pic NSW Police)

Red Roses Family Day Care allegedly filed claims for children who never existed and investigators NSW Police are now pursuing up to 150 parents who allegedly sold their children’s identities to help the company qualify for the subsidies.

“There are over 150 parents laying claim in terms of rebate, what we’ve taken out yesterday are the professional facilitators behind his syndicate,” NSW Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said.

The ABC understand the business existed on paper, but no child ever went into care at any of the properties.

“The [child] identities were legitimate it’s just there wasn’t any physical evidence of anyone being looked after,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith said.

Police said some of the men and women charged over the alleged scam were preparing to target the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

One of the “childcare centres” that supposedly looked after 50 children was operating out of a garage, police said.

Yesterday, NSW Police arrested 18 people over their alleged involvement in the scam — so far 17 have been charged.

“Strike force Mercury will continue in its investigations and we won’t rule out further arrests,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith said.

The company’s director, Alee Farman, 49, was among 15 women and three men who were arrested yesterday during raids stretching from Fairfield to Wollongong in relation to the alleged syndicate.

Police said Mr Farman was originally from Iraq and became an Australian citizen in 2007.

Police said one woman arrested yesterday had $35,000 cash in her handbag, despite claiming Centrelink benefits.

More than 20 properties targeted

The means-tested scheme was designed to help reduce the financial burden placed on low and middle-income families paying for childcare.

Subsidies are generally paid to childcare providers, who are required to pass them on to parents as a fee reduction.

Families then make a co-contribution to their childcare fees, paying the provider the difference between the fee charged and the subsidy amount.

The CCSS previously existed under different names before last July.