Queensland probes fraud in victim payout scheme after payouts hit $244M

Queensland's government is reviewing potential fraud inside Victim Assist Queensland, the ABC understands. The scheme hands out money to crime victims for counselling, legal fees, moving costs and one-off lump sums for primary victims of violent crime. Fraud reports have now put the program under the microscope.

The money flowing out has exploded. Victim Assist paid almost $244 million in 2024-25, up from $100 million the year before and just under $40 million in 2022-23, with total payouts across recent years nearing half a billion dollars. By December 31, it had already shelled out more than $125 million this financial year.

Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber put fraudsters on notice. She called financial assistance fraud a crime that takes support away from victims in their time of need and urged anyone with allegations to come forward. Gerber refused to rule out tightening the scheme's criteria to clamp down on dodgy claims, and would not answer questions about internal investigations into its effectiveness.

Some victims can tap the scheme without ever reporting to police, going through a doctor or psychologist instead. Sexual Violence Prevention Association director Gillian O'Brien warned against undoing that. She said sexual assault and domestic violence are traumatic and highly under-reported, often committed by someone the victim knows, and that requiring police reporting for all matters would be a significant barrier.

Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Alliance chief executive Mel Arnost backed her up, noting many victim-survivors don't want to report abuse to police and may instead approach a specialist service or an embedded worker before making a report, if at all. O'Brien added that while any financial assistance scheme carries risk, VAQ has safeguards and should not place an undue burden on victim-survivors to prove they are worthy.