Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. Yesterday the minister refused to accept that it was wrong to hound Nadia Sievewright over an illegal robodebt when she was eight months pregnant. Kath Madgwick's son Jarrad was issued a robodebt under Mr Morrison's illegal scheme. Jarrad tragically took his life after reading the letter from Centrelink about his robodebt, and Ms Madgwick believes the letter 'tipped him over the edge'. Does the Prime Minister now accept it was wrong to hound vulnerable Australians like Jarrad as a result of the illegal robodebt scheme he designed and implemented?

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

As I indicated to the chamber yesterday, we received advice at the time the program was put together that it was lawful. Many governments, Labor and Liberal, have in fact used ATO averaging data over many years. Services Australia makes $180 billion in payments every year. As I also put on the record in the Senate yesterday, Ms Plibersek, Mr Shorten and Mr Bowen have previously supported debt recovery, in the context of overpayments having been made.

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

Senator Keneally, a supplementary question?

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Rachel is a 64-year-old woman living in a remote Aboriginal community. Her son passed away in traumatic circumstances in 2018. The next year, Centrelink sent a letter to her son's estate demanding repayment of $3,300. Rachel then received a letter to her late son asking him to verify his employment records from five years earlier, leaving her distraught. Does the Prime Minister believe that Rachel deserves an apology?

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

I refer Senator Keneally to my first answer and to the statements by Ms Plibersek, Mr Shorten and Mr Bowen in support of debt recovery in relation to these payments.

Senator Wong interjecting—

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

He has concluded his answer, Senator Wong. I'll call Senator Keneally for a final supplementary question.

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the Prime Minister think the suffering experienced by Rachel, Jarrad and more than half a million Australians was worth it?

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

I refer Senator Keneally to my first answer.