opposition centrelink action received nacc hopes thousands royal misfeasance fresh descended class apsc welfare shorten stuart wrapped machine technology strategy resignation hypocrisy pressure robodebt kathryn place lawyer probe decision responds

Articles for Robodebt

Corruption watchdog to reconsider its decision not to investigate Robodebt referrals
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Corruption watchdog to reconsider its decision not to investigate Robodebt referrals

ABC  

The National Anti-Corruption Commission has announced it will reconsider its decision not to investigate referrals from the Robodebt royal commission after finding the commissioner did not properly deal with a declared conflict of interest. Commissioner Paul Brereton declared he had a "close association" with one of the people referred to the NACC by the Robodebt royal commission, and so delegated …

Brereton Inspector Decision Commissioner Robodebt Referrals Robodebt Commission Nacc Mr Brereton
'Lucky' Bill Shorten offers one more zinger, as he prepares to leave politics
3 months, 2 weeks ago

'Lucky' Bill Shorten offers one more zinger, as he prepares to leave politics

ABC  

Bill Shorten had one last "zinger" to offer when announcing his retirement from politics, as a journalist asked for an inside look into the conversations that led to his decision. "I think you would be one of the great fly fishermen of Australia, with that bait you're dangling," Mr Shorten joked as he spoke in the prime minister's courtyard. Prime …

Politics Labor Prime Election Prime Minister Minister Leader
Government lawyer at heart of disastrous Robodebt scheme resigns after questions raised about external work
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Government lawyer at heart of disastrous Robodebt scheme resigns after questions raised about external work

ABC  

In short: Former chief counsel of the Department of Human Services, Annette Musolino, has resigned after the ABC put questions to the government about her external work. In 2020, several years after concerns about the Robodebt scheme's legality were first raised internally within the DHS, Ms Musolino was promoted to the role of chief operating officer of Services Australia. The …

Royal Legal Australia Services Public Servants Work Report
The ATO is reviving old tax debts totalling billions, threatening some taxpayers with bankruptcy
9 months, 1 week ago

The ATO is reviving old tax debts totalling billions, threatening some taxpayers with bankruptcy

ABC  

After escaping an abusive partner more than a decade ago, Adriana Carrington felt life was just getting back on track. While the debt still theoretically exists, typically the ATO doesn't pursue debts that are deemed "uneconomical to pursue" because it's more costly for the agency to chase them down than to write them off. "The ATO should consider waiving a …

Tax Interest Old Small Carrington Some Cases Ato
Bill Shorten hopes thousands of new Services Australia staff will improve agency
10 months, 1 week ago

Bill Shorten hopes thousands of new Services Australia staff will improve agency

ABC  

In short: 3,000 new staff have been recruited to Services Australia. Thousands of new staff joining Services Australia are already turning around an agency struggling with recent performance and cultural problems, according to Government Services Minister Bill Shorten. The federal government has met its target of recruiting 3,000 new employees for Services Australia, after making the $228 million pledge late …

Australia Services Lot Staff Agency New Staff Robodebt
Too many patients are catching COVID in Australian hospitals, doctors say. So why are hospitals rolling back precautions?
10 months, 1 week ago

Too many patients are catching COVID in Australian hospitals, doctors say. So why are hospitals rolling back precautions?

ABC  

Steve Irons' older brother Jim was only supposed to be in hospital for a short while. But senior healthcare workers in several states say vulnerable people — including transplant and oncology patients and others with compromised immune systems — are contracting COVID because even basic precautions are not being taken: a consequence, they say, of hospitals' failure to address airborne …

Health Healthcare Control Patients Healthcare Workers Long Covid Infection
Four public servants breached duties over Robodebt, according to preliminary finding
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Four public servants breached duties over Robodebt, according to preliminary finding

ABC  

Four current or former public servants have breached the Australian Public Service code of conduct in relation to the Robodebt scheme, according to the preliminary findings of an independent investigation. Last year, the Australian Public Service Commission launched an investigation into 16 public servants who were identified by the royal commission into the unlawful debt recovery program as being involved …

Public Servants Public Code
Government formally responds to Robodebt royal commission, revealing 16 public servants being investigated over scheme
1 year, 1 month ago

Government formally responds to Robodebt royal commission, revealing 16 public servants being investigated over scheme

ABC  

The government has agreed to all of the recommendations from the royal commission into the unlawful Robodebt scheme. Key points: The federal government has accepted all the recommendations from the Robodebt royal commission A sealed section of the report remains secret, and the details of any criminal investigations are not known The public service commissioner is investigating 16 workers referred …

Royal Commission Scheme Robodebt 16 Public Servants
Scott Morrison accuses the government of 'rank hypocrisy' over Robodebt criticism, defends report findings
1 year, 4 months ago

Scott Morrison accuses the government of 'rank hypocrisy' over Robodebt criticism, defends report findings

ABC  

Former prime minister Scott Morrison has accused the government of "political lynching" over its criticism of his role in the illegal Robodebt income averaging scheme. Key points: Scott Morrison has doubled down on his rejection of the royal commission into Robodebt's findings against him The royal commission report found Mr Morrison allowed cabinet to be misled, provided untrue evidence and …

Royal Commission Minister Cabinet Scheme Morrison Findings
Kathryn Campbell, senior public servant in Robodebt scheme, resigns from Department of Defence
1 year, 5 months ago

Kathryn Campbell, senior public servant in Robodebt scheme, resigns from Department of Defence

ABC  

Senior public servant Kathryn Campbell has resigned from the Department of Defence after coming under heavy criticism for her role in the Robodebt scandal. Key points: Senior public servant Kathryn Campbell has resigned from the Department of Defence Ms Campbell's resignation comes after a royal commission into the illegal Robodebt scheme her department oversaw The royal commission found Ms Campbell …

Royal Defence Commission Department Campbell Her Role Ms Campbell
Kathryn Campbell first senior bureaucrat suspended after Robodebt royal commission
1 year, 5 months ago

Kathryn Campbell first senior bureaucrat suspended after Robodebt royal commission

ABC  

The senior bureaucrat who oversaw the rollout of the illegal Robodebt scheme has been suspended without pay following the damning findings of the royal commission. Key points: Kathryn Campbell was the head of the Department of Human Services during Robodebt's inception in 2014 The Robodebt royal commission found she "did nothing of substance" when exposed to information about the illegality …

Royal Commission Campbell Scheme Robodebt Ms Campbell Kathryn Campbell
With Robodebt and anonymous No Voice campaign, politics has descended into a dark place, feeding off downward envy
1 year, 5 months ago

With Robodebt and anonymous No Voice campaign, politics has descended into a dark place, feeding off downward envy

ABC  

A leaflet appeared in letterboxes in suburban Melbourne in recent days. In her report about Robodebt, Commissioner Catherine Holmes said: "Anti-welfare rhetoric is easy populism, useful for campaign purposes." The same downward envy Before the politics of attacking welfare bludgers that lay behind the way the Coalition government prosecuted its Robodebt scheme, there was the earlier attack on single mothers …

Politics Welfare Campaign Voice Pay Treaty Robodebt
Law firm that led Robodebt class action considers fresh compensation claim after royal commission
1 year, 5 months ago

Law firm that led Robodebt class action considers fresh compensation claim after royal commission

ABC  

The law firm that spearheaded the Robodebt class action is considering its options for a fresh compensation claim in light of the Robodebt royal commission findings. Key points: The royal commission found elements of a tort of misfeasance in public office had been made Gordon Legal is considering a fresh civil suit in light of those findings The tort would …

Royal Legal Commission Minister Royal Commission Public Office Robodebt
Roughly 443,000 Australians received false Robodebt notices. These are some of their stories
1 year, 5 months ago

Roughly 443,000 Australians received false Robodebt notices. These are some of their stories

ABC  

Robodebt Commissioner Catherine Holmes says the disastrous debt recovery scheme was "crude and cruel" and "made many people feel like criminals". Ms Miller believes it was the almost daily calls and letters from Centrelink and debt collectors in December 2016 that "pushed him over the edge" to take his own life. "The whole social security system does need to be …

Report Son His Son Mike Centrelink Robodebt Victim Jenny Miller
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton criticises the 'glee' of Labor leaders over Robodebt findings, apologises to victims
1 year, 5 months ago

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton criticises the 'glee' of Labor leaders over Robodebt findings, apologises to victims

ABC  

The federal opposition leader has apologised to Robodebt victims but has criticised "the glee" of the prime minister, accusing him of politicising the royal commission's report release. Key points: Mr Dutton called the royal commission an "important process" He said "we will consider" its recommendations Anthony Albanese slammed suggestions Labor was leveraging the report for political gain Commissioner Catherine Holmes …

Labor Royal Opposition Report Minister Leader Dutton
What did the Robodebt royal commission find about the people who oversaw the scheme?
1 year, 5 months ago

What did the Robodebt royal commission find about the people who oversaw the scheme?

ABC  

The political recriminations for findings of the Robodebt royal commission have been swift, with the prime minister dubbing the former debt collecting mechanism a "gross betrayal" of the Australian people. "The Robodebt scheme was a gross betrayal and a human tragedy," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said following the release of the report. Labor called the royal commission after coming to …

Labor Royal Services Legal Advice Public Servants Debt Recovery Social Services
The Robodebt royal commission is hearing damning evidence of public sector dysfunction. Now it must probe the question of culture
1 year, 10 months ago

The Robodebt royal commission is hearing damning evidence of public sector dysfunction. Now it must probe the question of culture

ABC  

In mid-November last year, the former head of the Department of Human Services, Kathryn Campbell, was asked by senior counsel assisting the royal commission into the so-called Robodebt scheme if she would describe the system, implemented under her watch, as "a massive failure of public administration". 'No one wanted to give her bad news' While the minister was presuming his …

Royal Media Evidence Services Public Administration Social Services Commission
Robodebt victims' details released to media in bid to deter them from speaking out, royal commission told
1 year, 10 months ago

Robodebt victims' details released to media in bid to deter them from speaking out, royal commission told

ABC  

Personal information of Robodebt victims was released to journalists in an effort to deter them from speaking out, a former media adviser to ex-human services minister Alan Tudge has told a royal commission. Key points: Rachelle Miller said in response to growing criticism, the government adopted a counter-narrative strategy in the "more friendly media" The commission heard Ms Miller's crisis …

Labor Media Services Personal Information Commission Minister Miller
Former government services minister Stuart Robert was warned Robodebt scheme could lead to civil action
1 year, 10 months ago

Former government services minister Stuart Robert was warned Robodebt scheme could lead to civil action

ABC  

Former government services minister Stuart Robert was warned continuing the illegal Robodebt scheme could lead to civil legal action, a royal commission has heard. Key points: The commission was shown a brief sent to then government services minister Stuart Robert summarising advice that found the scheme was unlawful Misfeasance in public office was a civil action that could be brought …

Legal Advice Services Legal Advice Office Commission Public
How to wrench open the black box of algorithms that decide our fate
2 years ago

How to wrench open the black box of algorithms that decide our fate

ABC  

There is a decision being made about you in this box. To decide how to categorise each application, the algorithm used by the UK Home Office relied on historical "immigration breaches" data. The UK Home Office's algorithm counted merely having a visa refused as a "breach", which led to biases in the historical data being exacerbated. Jack Maxwell — lawyer …

Rights Black Risk Home Affairs Blue Group Decisions
The Robodebt royal commission has wrapped up for now. Here are some of the key takeaways
2 years, 1 month ago

The Robodebt royal commission has wrapped up for now. Here are some of the key takeaways

ABC  

A royal commission into the now-defunct debt recovery scheme, commonly known as Robodebt, has wrapped up for now after two weeks of hearings in Brisbane. The inquiry heard Ms Wilson received legal advice when the scheme was being designed showing the "income averaging" method was unlawful but she lacked the "courage" to tell anyone, including then-social services minister Mr Morrison. …

Social Legal Advice Services Legal Advice Social Security Social Services
Lawyers 'appeared to come under pressure' from then-social services minister Scott Morrison to provide Robodebt advice, inquiry is told
2 years, 1 month ago

Lawyers 'appeared to come under pressure' from then-social services minister Scott Morrison to provide Robodebt advice, inquiry is told

ABC  

Potentially "catastrophic" external legal advice that could have shut down Robodebt appeared to have been disregarded after the government failed to elevate it beyond a draft form, a royal commission into the scheme has been told. Key points: A principal legal officer within the Department of Social Services gave evidence to the inquiry She agreed there was some pressure from …

Legal Services Social Services Department Emails Holmes Robodebt
Raging against the machine: What we can learn from the failure of Robodebt
2 years, 3 months ago

Raging against the machine: What we can learn from the failure of Robodebt

ABC  

On Thursday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a royal commission into the Online Compliance Initiative — commonly known as “Robodebt”. With its detrimental effect on welfare recipients, the initiative might be of particular concern to Albanese, who grew up “in public housing in inner city Sydney, the son of a pensioner.” And the Prime Minister seems to have a …

Welfare Failure Income Intervention Public Robodebt Recipients