Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator O'Neill for the question. It was, as Senator O'Neill alludes to in her question, such a big failure of public administration. It has resulted in $1.8 billion worth of refunds, affecting half a million Australians—over 443,000 Australians—who were hounded to pay back money that they didn't owe. We'll never forget, will we, former ministers saying, 'We'll find you, we'll track you down, you'll have to repay it and you may even end up in prison.'

That's what happened under this illegal scheme that affected hundreds of thousands of Australians and their families, causing ongoing and significant harm. That is the legacy of the former government, so when they lecture us on the cost of living, we always remember what they did to Australia's neediest people who relied on social services and social security. They hounded them and they threatened them with jail, and we are addressing all of these recommendations.