Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Cormann, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Yesterday Mr Morrison finally apologised to victims of his illegal robodebt scheme. What lessons has he learned?

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

It's very clear, consistent with the positions of governments of both political persuasions, that it is entirely appropriate for overpayments that have been made to be recovered. But of course that needs to be done, must be done and the government would always intend it to be done in a way that is lawful. And so in those circumstances it was appropriate for the Prime Minister to make the statement he did to the House yesterday.

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

Senator McCarthy, a supplementary question?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Two weeks ago on Insiders the Attorney-General refused to apologise to victims of the illegal robodebt scheme. This week this minister refused nine opportunities to apologise. When did this minister first become aware of Mr Morrison's intention to apologise, and what changed?

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

It's a matter of physical fact that I obviously only become aware of answers that are provided in the other place after they've been provided. Clearly, the Prime Minister provided an answer yesterday to a question asked, and that is entirely appropriate.

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

Senator McCarthy, a final supplementary question?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can Mr Morrison guarantee that he won't seek to reboot a rebadged robodebt scheme to target vulnerable people in the middle of Australia's first recession in 29 years?

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

What the government can guarantee is that we will continue to ensure that, if people fail to come to an arrangement to settle their debts, the government has a responsibility to taxpayers to recover the money, as said by Tanya Plibersek. Of course, we know that Mr Shorten supported the automation of this process and we know that Chris Bowen also supported that principle. I guess we're hearing the Labor Party essentially suggesting that, when payments are made to people in excess of what they should have been, the government should just walk away and leave it.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order on my left!

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

We should just make overpayment after overpayment. If that is the position of the Labor Party, the Labor Party should spell it out.

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

Order! When I call senators to order, the informal rule is they must count to 10 before they start inappropriately interjecting again.