It's been revealed almost $3 billion in welfare payments have been overpaid by the government.
The Human Services Department overpaid recipients $2.84 billion through fraud or error in 2017.
Just over 700 people have reportedly been prosecuted as a result, but less than half of the money has been repaid.
Human Services Minister Michael Keenan has blamed human error and fraud for the overpayments.
He says the government is committed to cracking down on welfare fraud.
"If you have been defrauding the system, then you can expect that we will come down on you like a Don of bricks -- tonne of bricks. We have a joint taskforce with the Australian Federal Police I was familiar with from my previous job. We will continue to investigate fraud and to prosecute people to the maximum extent of the law if they have been engaged in defrauding the Australian taxpayer through our welfare system." Mr Keenan says.
But Acting Shadow Human Services Minister Doug Cameron says the government is incompetent.
"This is a government that has an ideological obsession about kicking welfare recipients and demonising them. This is not good enough. This is a government that should actually be focusing on how they improve services." Mr Cameron says.
