Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Government Services, Senator Ruston. How many Australians were pursued under the government's illegal robodebt scheme?

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

I thank Senator Brown for her question. The senator may be aware that on 19 November the Minister for Government Services, the Hon. Stuart Robert, made an announcement in relation to further refinements in relation to the income compliance program. Those measures were designed to strengthen and improve the program that was introduced by the Labor Party in 2011. The program changes are designed to make it more robust by requiring more information to be provided in relation to people when we are seeking to determine whether a debt has actually been incurred. As you'd be aware from announcements last year, the government is no longer using income averaging solely as a reason for raising a debt. However, as you would also be aware, this matter is before the courts, so any further comment in relation to this—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Brown on a point of order.

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Direct relevance. There was only one question and I'd waited for a while. I would like the minister to actually answer the question I asked.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You've reminded the minister of your question. There was an assertion in the question about the legality of it, so the minister is in order and being directly relevant in addressing that. I think there was the word 'illegal'. The minister can be in order in addressing that as well. I have allowed you to remind the minister of the question. I call the minister to continue.

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

Thank you very much, Mr President. As the senator would also be aware, this chamber and the other chamber were advised at the time, and it was also advised in the media, that we would no longer be using income averaging with the ATO as the sole reason for determining a debt for somebody who potentially had been overpaid by Centrelink. We also advised that there was a review being undertaken. That review is currently underway and forms part of the process that is currently before the courts. I am not in a position to pre-empt the outcome of the court's deliberations.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brown, a supplementary question?

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. How much money are those illegally pursued owed?

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

I would refer the senator to my answer to the previous question, and that is that the review is afoot, and when I am in a position to come back to this chamber with more information, I will do so.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brown, a final supplementary question?

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. When will those illegally pursued be paid back?

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

I would once again refer the senator to my previous answer, when I advised her that there is a review underway in relation to the matters she has raised. Once that review is completed, she will be able to get the answer to her question.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.