Robodebt recovery scheme, called "a shameful chapter" and "massive failure in public administration" as Justice Bernard Murphy approved a settlement worth at least $1.8 billion for people wrongly pursued by the federal government's Robodebt scheme.
"One thing … that stands out … is the financial hardship, anxiety and distress, including suicidal ideation and in some cases suicide, that people or their loved ones say was suffered as a result of the Robodebt system, and that many say they felt shame and hurt at being wrongly branded 'welfare cheats'," he said.
"He said ministers and public servants should have known the method of using taxation income records to estimate a welfare recipient's average income was flawed."However, it is quite another thing to be able to prove to the requisite standard that they actually knew that the operation of the Robodebt system was unlawful," he said.
"There is little in the materials to indicate that the evidence rises to that level.
"I am reminded of the aphorism that, given a choice between a stuff-up (even a massive one) and a conspiracy, one should usually choose a stuff-up."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-11/robodebt-condemned-by-federal-court-judge-as-shameful-chapter/100207674
Its just a damned pity that the politicians that designed this truly harmful scheme are not financially effected by this. It was the greedy, vindictive and malicious attitude/belief of the conservatives that created this massive abuse of power against the nation's most vulnerable. It was stupid and an example of the true depth of folly.
If the LNP don't get back into govt next election, this is one of the key issues that will be the cause.
