<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The shocking extent of fraud in the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/ndis-changes-what-we-actually-know-about-overhaul-explainer/1d5ac093-7675-4197-9a3b-9950b890e3f0" rel="" target="" title="National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)"><span>National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)</span></a><span> has been laid bare with accusations of coercion, criminal gangs and more than $3.5 billion of tainted funds.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/parliament" rel="" target="" title="parliamentary inquiry"><span>parliamentary inquiry</span></a><span> investigating how widespread fraud is within the NDIS has found that an estimated 8 per cent of the $45 billion scheme has been tainted by fraud.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The NDIS works by pairing a person with a disability with one of the 1400 plan managers, who provides them with the support that they need.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-politics-live-iran-israel-middle-east-war-may-1-donald-trump-king-charles-visit/967c1525-a092-46f8-8202-12d36983ed1d" target="_blank"><strong><span>Qantas and Jetstar extend flight cuts</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The scheme is government funded and is designed to support about 410,000 people.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Of the smallest 1000 plan managers, the inquiry has uncovered that 90 per cent have traces of fraud within their activity.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We've seen evidence from our intelligence of them targeting those who [have] particular physical and cognitive disabilities," Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission executive Adam Meyer said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/ndis-fraud-laid-bare-in-parliament/7cdb0b4d-c8af-4617-bf28-f1e55940d7e4" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is alleged that some work within criminal gangs, whilst others operate in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/south-america" rel="" target="" title="South America"><span>South America</span></a><span> and parts of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/asia" rel="" target="" title="Asia"><span>Asia</span></a><span>, such as the south-east and the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/middle-east" rel="" target="" title="Middle East"><span>Middle East</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is a coercive sort of arrangement," John Dardo from the Fraud Fusion Taskforce said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That's at one end of the spectrum that is really taking advantage of very, very vulnerable people."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/body-found-in-search-for-missing-northern-territory-girl/d2aa7d07-20a3-4e85-965b-dcae5f71dd4d" target="_blank"><strong><span>Police warning to associates of suspected child killer</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government has responded by </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/ndis-changes-what-we-actually-know-about-overhaul-explainer/1d5ac093-7675-4197-9a3b-9950b890e3f0" rel="" target="" title="taking a knife to NDIS spending"><span>taking a knife to NDIS spending</span></a><span> in next month's budget.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The parliamentary inquiry comes following Health Minister Mark Butler's </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/ndis-changes-who-does-it-impact-families-worried-about-being-reassessed/12bf5759-a583-43bf-bb88-5f4a33ec1606" rel="" target="" title="announcement"><span>announcement</span></a><span> of the overhaul designed to save the government $35 billion.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Butler aims to cut the average annual plan spend by about $5000, down from $31,000 to around $26,000.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" 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