Kimberley Kitching (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Accountability) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. Yesterday, Senator Birmingham said that the robodebt scheme 'obviously had issues'. When did the Morrison government first become aware that the robodebt scheme 'obviously had issues'?

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

As I did yesterday, I refer the senator to the answers that Senator Ruston has given on those matters.

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

Senator Kitching, a supplementary question?

Kimberley Kitching (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Accountability) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Was the government told in a departmental brief on or around 1 March 2017 that a third of robodebts had been reassessed and reduced to zero dollars?

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

In relation to a particular departmental brief on a particular date, I will take that on notice and seek to provide a response to the senator. I would reiterate in this matter that it is important for governments to be able to ensure that taxpayer dollars, where they are paid out, are paid where they are validly meant to go. And, in relation to our government, we have acknowledged on this program that there was a need to refund certain payments and to correct in relation to those issues. We equally stand by the need to make sure that taxpayer dollars are respected and that the Commonwealth recoups those where they have been wrongly claimed.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Kitching, a final supplementary question?

Kimberley Kitching (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Accountability) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Did the government have information in January 2017 suggesting that up to 86 per cent of robodebts issued had to be reassessed?

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

Our government has worked through these issues, which have been the subject of extensive questioning in relation to the dates, which the senator refers to, that particular information may have been provided. If there is something further to be provided in relation to the information I took on notice before—which, I suspect, has probably already been dealt with through Senate estimates committee hearings in questions to Senator Ruston of a highly repetitive nature around dates and times—I will make sure that it is included. But it does not negate the fact that the government sought to make sure taxpayer dollars went to the purpose for which they were intended, and our government will continue to do so, where we can and where appropriate.