Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I was asked about the cost of living and the impact on people's mental health. This is evidence that's been given this year about real people and the real impact of what occurred. 'When I got my robodebt I was pregnant and living in a refuge in Canberra escaping domestic violence. I was working three jobs to stay afloat. Because of this debt I was unable to afford medication and was hospitalised.' Axel said this: 'I was worried about how I would eat and whether I could stay in my home. The previous government kicked me in the guts. We need this royal commission so we know who did this to us.' Catherine: 'The previous government needs to be held accountable, because it's immoral for them to impose these debts and then not explain how these debts came to be.'

Not only did the robodebt scandal impose those sorts of conditions on vulnerable people in attacking not just the standard of living but whether they had any money at all to survive. We know that the former member for Aston had this to say:

We'll find you, we'll track you down and you will have to repay those debts and you may end up in prison.

What impact do you think that had on people's mental health?

Honourable members interjecting—

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