Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators McCarthy, Urquhart and Bilyk move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) the Government's unlawful 'Robodebt' scheme has:

     (A) caused hardship for working Australians who paid faulty debts,

     (B) had consequences for mental health including being linked to suicide,

     (C) negatively impacted people's credit ratings, and

     (D) created a 'climate of fear' among ordinary Australians,

  (ii) despite four years of warnings, the Government failed to address the fundamental flaws of 'Robodebt',

  (iii) the Government has admitted that 'Robodebt' was unlawful,

  (iv) the 'Robodebt' scheme has likely cost more to implement than was recouped through stand-over tactics, debt collectors and tax returns,

  (v) the current Prime Minister and Attorney-General were involved in 'Robodebt's' design and implementation as the Treasurer and Social Services Minister,

  (vi) the Government has attempted to cover up the 'Robodebt' scandal through a public interest immunity claim in the Senate and the Federal Court,

  (vii) it is in the public interest to uncover the circumstances under which a government unlawfully took money from its own people, and

  (viii) a Royal Commission is the only forum with the coercive powers and broad jurisdiction necessary to properly perform this investigation; and

(b) calls on the Government to immediately establish a Royal Commission into 'Robodebt'.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Services Australia makes over $180 billion in payments each year. Australians rightly expect the government to be resolute custodians of these taxpayer funds and work diligently to prevent and recover overpayments. When the income compliance program was established, it was on the basis of longstanding historical practice of many governments—Labor and coalition—and the understandings of the law at the time. As the government's understanding changed, it responded appropriately to refund all payments on debts raised that were wholly or partly relying on the use of the averaged ATO income data. There is also a court matter underway, as well as a Senate inquiry. A long-running royal commission won't help people get their refunds.

(The President—Senator Ryan)

Question negatived.