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

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Government Services, Senator Ruston. Can the minister confirm the government received 14 official reports of robodebt victims threatening self-harm: on 7 January 2017, 13 July 2017, 1 August 2017, 8 August 2017, 28 August 2017, 30 August 2017, 6 October 2017, 23 October 2017, 26 October 2017, 6 November 2017, 7 August 2018, 24 September 2018, 6 November 2018 and 11 December 2018?

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

I thank Senator McCarthy for her question. I do not have with me today the information that you require. However, I will take the specifics of the detailed question that you asked in relation to each and every one of those individual instances that you have just quoted. I make the point that this is a very delicate and sensitive area and that we need to be mindful of how we handle these issues. I would warn everyone opposite that talking about this issue requires great sensitivity and I caution anyone reaching unfounded conclusions that continue to perpetuate the upset and trauma that is inflicted on the loved ones.

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

Has the minister asked the department for a report on how many Australians died by suicide as a result of the government's illegal robodebt scheme?

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

As I said, we need to be very careful and very sensitive because any death by suicide is a tragedy—I say that upfront. Senator McCarthy, I reject the premise of your question, because I believe it is incorrect for you to interpret Centrelink customer death statistics as suicides. These are all individual cases and all these individual people deserve respect and not to be spoken about as just a statistic. We know that there are a number of deceased customers of Centrelink whose estates are entitled to a refund under the Income Compliance program. Those estates will receive those refunds, as will everybody in the Income Compliance program.

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

Senator Wong, on a point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, the question was asked with the sensitivity that the minister is urging. My point of order goes to direct relevance. Senator McCarthy asked whether the minister had sought a report about those who might have died by suicide as a consequence of being pursued under the illegal scheme. We haven't asked about refunds; we've asked whether or not a report around the effects of the scheme has been asked for.

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

I've allowed you to restate the question, Senator Wong. While the minister was talking about this sensitive matter in substance, I do consider her to be directly relevant. Senator Ruston has concluded the answer. Senator McCarthy, a final supplementary question?

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

Minister, why did the government persist with the Prime Minister's robodebt scheme when it knew it was illegal and there were reports of self-harm and suicide?

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

As I said to a previous question that was asked of me by those on the other side, when we became aware as to the income compliance program, which used income averaging as the sole determining factor for determining a debt, we ceased that program and we commenced immediately putting in place a program to repay those debts. We have nearly completed that program, and we are just working through the final stages to make sure that anybody who had a debt that was raised as a result of income averaging is now in the process of receiving that refund.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on notice.