<
https://theconversation.com/the-robodebt-scheme-failed-tests-of-lawfulness-impartiality-integrity-and-trust-193832>
"The Robodebt royal commission is currently hearing evidence of tremendous
hardship inflicted on people by a government that appeared to have little
concern for the people its actions affected.
The bureaucratic process was malign, and it harmed and stigmatised welfare
recipients.
Despite questions about the scheme’s legality, the program recovered about $750
million from around 380,000 people by a process called income averaging. This
involved sending debt notices that came as a surprise to the recipients who had
virtually no options to challenge these notices.
The whole process was outrageous. It led to severe trauma among many of the
poorest people in the country, mental health episodes and some reported
suicides.
When the matter finally came to court as a result of a class action involving
about 400,000 people, the government made a $1.2 billion dollar settlement in
2020, but did not admit liability. It was absurd politics and absurd financial
management.
What was the main driver? Was it recovery of money, or something else? The
royal commission will answer these questions.
Irrespective of the final outcome, Robodebt lacked integrity and projected the
government’s deficit of trust towards its most vulnerable citizens."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
