- Dec 27, 2016
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Catherine Holmes commented through the inquiry of "a conspiracy to cover up" within the ruling government and the public service.
After a ten month investigation and a Royal Commission, and in a sum of the complete lack of a moral compass that surrounded the flawed and illegal scheme, Commissioner Catherine Holmes noted how “truly dismaying was the revelation of dishonesty and collusion to prevent the scheme’s lack of legal foundation coming to light”. She went on to condemn Robodebt as an "extraordinary saga of venality, incompetence, and cowardice".
The Commissioner, with her findings, provided a sealed section with recommendations for civil claims and criminal prosecutions and referrals to anti corruption bodies. The former Prime Minister Scott Morrison's name is suspected to be in it.
The Robodebt Royal Commission has exposed an insidious and illegal scheme that turned the machinery of an entire government against its own people. The plan was to raise billions from welfare recipients by convincing them they had fake debts. The debt was calculated using income averaging.
Across departments and through legal advices that were buried, they all knew that not only was accuracy impossible using income averaging but that the scheme was illegal.
Those who imagined, designed and delivered it, put their personal ambition above all.
It began in late 2016, when over 100,000 people were issued with welfare debts stretching back years. Nearly 500,000 were targeted. Unless a victim could prove they didn't owe the money, they were essentially guilty and their debt was passed on to a debt collector, with added fees.
If not prompt in responding, and if the AFP logo on a Centrelink notice wasn't enough to frighten people, Alan Tudge's response to victims attempts to generate public awareness, probably did. Tudge released their personal details to the press and stated they risk jail if the debts weren't paid. This, according to Tudge's media adviser Rachelle Miller, was seen as a successful strategy to silence them. Many people paid it, knowing they did not owe it. Some are known to have become so overwhelmed they suicided.
The government has paid back this far, $1.8 billion in refunds and compensation.
There's a lot of material out there and a decent podcast.
Mention of a conspiracy to cover up is in here:
Truly disgusting how many could have put a stop to this but carried on knowing it was wrong.
After a ten month investigation and a Royal Commission, and in a sum of the complete lack of a moral compass that surrounded the flawed and illegal scheme, Commissioner Catherine Holmes noted how “truly dismaying was the revelation of dishonesty and collusion to prevent the scheme’s lack of legal foundation coming to light”. She went on to condemn Robodebt as an "extraordinary saga of venality, incompetence, and cowardice".
The Commissioner, with her findings, provided a sealed section with recommendations for civil claims and criminal prosecutions and referrals to anti corruption bodies. The former Prime Minister Scott Morrison's name is suspected to be in it.
The Robodebt Royal Commission has exposed an insidious and illegal scheme that turned the machinery of an entire government against its own people. The plan was to raise billions from welfare recipients by convincing them they had fake debts. The debt was calculated using income averaging.
Across departments and through legal advices that were buried, they all knew that not only was accuracy impossible using income averaging but that the scheme was illegal.
Those who imagined, designed and delivered it, put their personal ambition above all.
It began in late 2016, when over 100,000 people were issued with welfare debts stretching back years. Nearly 500,000 were targeted. Unless a victim could prove they didn't owe the money, they were essentially guilty and their debt was passed on to a debt collector, with added fees.
If not prompt in responding, and if the AFP logo on a Centrelink notice wasn't enough to frighten people, Alan Tudge's response to victims attempts to generate public awareness, probably did. Tudge released their personal details to the press and stated they risk jail if the debts weren't paid. This, according to Tudge's media adviser Rachelle Miller, was seen as a successful strategy to silence them. Many people paid it, knowing they did not owe it. Some are known to have become so overwhelmed they suicided.
The government has paid back this far, $1.8 billion in refunds and compensation.
There's a lot of material out there and a decent podcast.
Episodes
A daily news podcast from Schwartz Media and *The Saturday Paper*. Hear from the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia.
7ampodcast.com.au
Mention of a conspiracy to cover up is in here:
Truly disgusting how many could have put a stop to this but carried on knowing it was wrong.