THE government is about to get tough on serial fine dodgers as part of a controversial new Centrelink crackdown.
From March 2019, people claiming new welfare payments will first have to undergo police checks.
Under the strict measures, people found to have an outstanding arrest warrant on their record will have their welfare payments frozen until they turn themselves in to police.
Fugitives with kids will have their payments halved to encourage co-operation with the police, but if the warrant is cleared within a month, the benefits will be reinstated.
And Centrelink payments will be cancelled altogether for people who fail to turn themselves in to authorities.
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Read the full article at: http://www.news.com.au/finance/money/costs/centrelink-crackdown-government-announces-bold-plans-to-reclaim-debt/news-story/1543f9bb20701dfd3df02981ecc74811