Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I refer to a press release that was released by the Minister for Human Services on 29 June 2011. I quote from that:

Beginning … this year, Centrelink and the ATO will automatically match data on a daily basis as a way of cross-checking former welfare recipients who have a debt with the Commonwealth.

…   …   …

Those … identified as having debts and who haven't made repayment arrangements ...

I underline my last point: 'those who haven't made repayment arrangements'. If you make a repayment arrangement or you engage with Centrelink, often the debts are not raised. The other thing I note is that Ms Plibersek made the following comment:

The Government prefers to work with people and provide them with flexible debt repayment options, rather than having to garnishee their tax refunds … But if people …

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