The logical conclusion of a philosophy which views anyone on welfare as a bludger and anyone poor as fair game was on horrifying display as Robodebt Royal Commissioner Catherine Holmes AC SC revealed her 1,039 page report to the Australian public on Friday.
After ten months’ work, this is not a document that pulls its punches, minces its words, or avoids naming names. It comes with a trigger warning and discusses suicide.
The Commissioner expresses her incredulity that computer-based income averaging could ever have become the basis of an official government debt recovery scheme, and describes as ‘truly amazing’ the lengths that the Morrison Government went to in attempting to hide the scheme’s lack of legal foundation.
As it turns out, the incompetence of the people involved was a perfect match for their cruelty and stupidity, which was why the whole sordid mess unravelled so spectacularly, but not before destroying the lives of a large number of innocent Australians.
At the core of the disaster was the politicisation of the public service, which began in a major way under John Howard and has since become much worse. This culture contributed to the failure of checks and balances which would, once upon a time, have stopped an idea as bad as Robodebt from ever getting out of the gate. Services Australia are singled out for special attention, but are just one of a number of government agencies who appear to be in need of major reform.
People first?
The number one recommendation of the Royal Commission’s report is that governments ‘design policies and processes with emphasis on the people they are meant to serve.’
Perhaps if all prospective politicians could have these words tattooed somewhere sensitive, they might sink in.
There are 56 further recommendations, most of which are equally sensible, which is probably why Peter Dutton and others of a Liberal/National Party persuasion have been reluctant to endorse them, so far, although Mr Dutton has apologised for Robodebt on behalf of the former government.
The point of the scheme was supposed to be to crack down on welfare cheats, although as Commissioner Holmes points out, the evidence was that ‘fraud in the welfare system was miniscule’.
Robodebt was sold on the basis that that it would generate $4.7 billion in savings from 2014 to 2022. Actually $406 million was saved. The costs of the scheme have so far amounted to over one billion dollars, including compensation to victims.
The political point of the scheme, of course, was to publicly bash poor people, in order to distract us all from the extremely wealthy companies and individuals who continue to rip off Australia to an alarming degree. Commissioner Holmes directly calls out populist politicians who have advanced their careers by attacking the most vulnerable in society, saying they ‘need to abandon for good (in every sense) the narrative of taxpayer versus welfare recipient.’
Human cost
More than 443,000 Australians were targeted by Robodebt. The total cost in human lives is hard to quantify, but there are numerous harrowing stories in Commission Holmes’ report, including suicides.
After debt collectors were sent after one man, pursuing a non-existent Robodebt, the young man took his own life. His mother told the Royal Commission she ‘found debt letters hanging on the fridge along with a drawing of a person shooting a gun in their mouth, with dollar signs coming out of the back of their head.’
Another witness told Commissioner Holmes, ‘I feel utterly betrayed by the government for this… [We] were treated like criminals and cheats, when all the while it was the department’s scheme that was illegal.’
One part of the Royal Commission’s report remains secret, pending further investigation and potential prosecution of individuals for their criminal behaviour. Former ministers Christian Porter and Alan Tudge have already claimed to be in the clear. Stuart Robert has also said he’s not in the frame to appear in court for his actions relating to Robodebt. If this is true, the mind boggles, but that’s Australian politics, just ask Gladys Berejiklian.
Peter Dutton will be hoping very hard that the voters of Fadden, on the Gold Coast, are able to forget the name of their former local member, along with the crimes of his government, when they vote in a by-election to replace Stuart Robert on Saturday.
Meanwhile the ex-Smirker-in-Chief (and Robert’s mate), Scott Morrison, has publicly rejected the findings of the Robodebt Royal Commission, but not said whether he’s been referred for further civil or criminal actions.
You can read Commissioner Catherine Holmes’ complete report here.
If this story has brought up any issues for you, Lifeline is available 24/7 on 131 114.
Originally from Canberra, David Lowe is an award-winning film-maker, writer and photographer with particular interests in the environment and politics. He’s known for his campaigning work with Cloudcatcher Media.
Long ago, he did work experience in Parliament House with Mungo MacCallum.
David, the ‘other side of the coin’ is that in the past there was a large amount of welfare fraud lying undetected.
Most people have personal experiences of people getting double benefits/pensions that they were not entitled to from the taxpayer.
However, with the recently un-graded government linked-agency data such as ‘MyGov’ this has now declined to a significant extent, making such campaigns as RoboDebt largely redundant.
E.G. – Nowadays if you are bit late with your income tax return (ITR) or do not reply to another ‘request’ from Centrelink for yet more (duplicated) income information, you could find your Aged Pension stopped, with only a brief notation of the reasons given via MyGov.
Pity those who do not have or can’t properly use a computer!
Here we go again with the demonising of welfare recipients, throwing around ‘welfare fraud’.
Where are all these welfare fraudsters? Where are they hiding?
If RoboDebt proved anything, it was that the nation isn’t overrun by’welfare fraudsters. So lets put it to rest once and for all.
The fraudsters I see are the politicians with the never ending, constant revelations of expense claim ‘errors’.
Rob L, you could be onto something about our politicians, “can’t properly use a computer!”
How else to explain the politicians continually ‘inadvertently’ making a mess of their expense claims.
These fraudsters are always hiding in plain sight, Joackim.
Just ask anyone of pension age and outside your tight little circle of friends.
When someone is actually in the pension/benefit/NDIS system, they live in the real world and see a constant abuse of taxpayer’s money. You need to wise-up my friend…
Rob L, you seem to know ‘fraudsters’.
You have reported them, yes?
Bill Shorten has worked tirelessly on this issue, raising question after question in parliament from opposition to draw attention to the harm this scheme was doing and seek justice and accountability for its victims. The fact that we had a RC and that the depth of the horror was uncovered is down to the change to a Labor government. And it certainly wasn’t all down to political revenge.
And some people suggest there is no difference between “tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber”. Dangerous self serving, cynical nonsense.
Lizardbreath, not that Bill Shorten needed any extra motivation after then PM Abbott / LNP Govt and their mate Dyson Heydon went after him with that Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption, all the red flags of RoboRobberyDebt were impossible ( for anyone but the LNP ) to ignore.
Full marks for Bill Shorten involvement getting that class action happening that saw the LNP finally capitulate rather than face their day in court to answer for their actions. That day in court for the LNP monsters – Morrison, Tudge, Porter, Robert – may only have been postponed with Royal Commission ‘sealed section’ to now run its course.
Lizardbreath, if you missed last nights ( 10/7/23 ) ABC 7.30 show, then you need to get onto ABC Iview and dial up the 7.30 show, it was Bill Shorten in one of his finest moments.
As for PM Albanese promoting Kathryn Robodebt Campbell to her new job at Defence / AUKUS, what the hell!
She was NOT promoted. Of all the gripes you hark on about, this one has to be the most inconsequential. Labor, having instigated the Royal Commission, really needed to let it take its course before ploughing in. There is a little concept called procedural fairness.
I saw 7.30 but I’ve seen Bill Shorten, and many other Labor MPs in many a fine moment.
“She” is on a salary of about a million per year, Although proven to be incompetent and a criminal!
Shouldn’t a gaol term be more appropriate ? And…. not only for her, but all those in a position of authority during this criminal action.
There was never a need for a Royal Commission, Blind Freddy could see that persecuting the poor in order to improve the budget figures, is not only criminal but SICK !
Anybody who cares to look at the system of unemployment payments at that time can easily see the only persons in a position to defraud the system would be Centrelink employees or politicians.
What was the opposition doing ? what was the Press doing? What did the public of this noble nation do when it was bragged about by those responsible ?
The same thing they are doing about the insane persecution of Julian Assange, the importation of Islander Kanaks, and the rorts of importing low paid ‘essential workers’, under threat of deportation if they complain.
This is one Sick, Sad Country and getting worse.
Cheers, G”)
Lizardbreath, the concept of procedural fairness died at with Kathryn Robodebt Campbell’s own hand in her time as Secretary of the Department of Inhuman Services.
PM Albanese didn’t wait for the RC to hand down its report to plough in and promote Kathryn Campbell into a newly created position at Defence / AUKUS. Fancy that eh, a newly created position just for Kathryn Campbell, when she should have been removed from any position she held, instead PM Albanese ploughs in and does the complete opposite. Like I said, what the hell!
To Joachim and Ken
SMH 08/07: “The Albanese government technically demoted Campbell last year from the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to a senior role within Defence advising on the AUKUS agreement.
“If she stayed in the secretary position, the government would have been able to move her on under the Public Service Act because the heads of departments stay in their positions at the discretion of the government. Because she is now at a deputy secretary level, she can only be removed by the secretary of the department after a drawn-out process using a new central inquiry mechanism which will determine breaches of the public service code of conduct.”
A Royal Commission (though so necessary in this case) costs millions to run. It would not be appropriate for a government to preempt all its findings and recommendations, tempting though that might be.
“The concept of procedural fairness died at with (sic) Kathryn Robodebt Campbell’s own hand”. What a ridiculous statement! Of course the whole scheme ignored procedural fairness but it would be a sad outcome indeed if the upshot was that such values become the new norm. What then would be the purpose of exposing it all? Lessons learnt and all that?
As I said Joachim, this harping on about Kathryn Campbell is a thinly veiled excuse for a whinge. I think there were much bigger fish in the pond. But if you think albanese was in anyway condoning or rewarding robodebt you’re deluded. 🤔
And Ken, it’s a bit rich to carry on about Assange and then suggest that people associated with robodebt should all be in gaol. Mostly in this country, this involves the gathering of evidence (the type that stands up in court not just the pub), laying charges and a day (or several) in court
Do we need to lose all standards because we’ve had a disastrous LNP government?
And Ken, there was plenty of attention drawn to the implications of the scheme by both the media (especially the ABC) and the Opposition. To my mind one of the most reprehensible aspects of all this was that the fatally flawed nature of the scheme and it’s inhumane implications would have been well known but it took legal challenges and a class action (thanks Bill Shorten) to make them FINALLY drop it.
🤬 the levels of reasoning, consistency and logic from some contributors leave much to be desired!
Sorry in advance for the rude word emoji Joachim!
“Do we need to lose all standards because we’ve had a disastrous LNP government?”
For god’s sake look around Lizard ! It is obvious that we already have, that’s how all these travesties are occurring here!
There may have been “attention drawn” but what was done to halt this horror ?
How many scumbags are happily committing atrocities, secure in the knowledge that there is no justice in this country and any action against them will take decades, then like Pell and Ben Roberts-Smith
( the war criminal who still has the VC , and is a millionaire many times over ) …you merely appeal until the findings are reversed.
Money doesn’t talk it swears. Cheers, G”)
Joachim my man, what the hell; do you get a monetary payment for every sledge you level at Albo, does your tunnel vision and lack of reality not allow you to realize that if a Govt sacks very senior public servants without “procedural fairness” and legal evidence of criminal or incompetent behaviour, there will be massive claims for compensation? This type of appalling, illegal behaviour is exactly why the Coalition got booted out, don’t ever forget it was the Albanese Labor Govt that first exposed and now dragged these dirty Coalition mongrels to a Royal Commission, put your half cocked juvenile comments on hold for a while and watch this space.
What were they doing about it Ken?
1.Winning a class action that cost us taxpayers millions and brought the scheme to a halt (with some payouts to the victims.
2. Campaigning to get back into government (because previously all they could do was complain) and promise a Royal Commission with the powers of subpoena to get to the nitty gritty.
What do you suggest to rectify our parlous state of affairs when we had/have a population so ready to give power to the likes of Morrison et al?
Lizardbreath and Ken, the basic principle, which Albo threw out the window, is that we don’t keep employing perps in positions of authority and power.
It is an insult to victims that Kathryn Campbell enjoys a new plum job, its a giant FAIL by PM Albo.
Keith, “…there will be massive claims for compensation”, just laughable.
The RoboDebt Victims got how much compensation? Yet, here you are making out that one of the perps of the whole abomination is in some sort of position to $’s clean up in Court.
Court, yes please, B R I N G it on!
Lizardbreath and everyone else is invited, get onto Michael West Media, michaelwest.com.au and dial up the story – ‘Kathryn Campbell – from RoboDebt ignominy to plum Defence job with the PM’s help’ by Rex Patrick | May 13, 2023
The article outlines PM Albo’s fast track promotion of Kathryn Campbell to Defence / AUKUS.
It couldn’t be said better than by the Rex, “It beggars belief”.
Thanks Joachim, an interesting article. I note that you skim over the initial bit that has such good things to say about your favourite Senator, Penny Wong.
It is an intriguing tale but suffice to say Kathryn Campbell was NOT promoted. Who knows what was going on but here’s one report you shouldn’t have missed: “ Former top public servant Kathryn Campbell went on leave from her $900,000 a year job with the Defence Department last week – a day before the robo-debt royal commission made damning findings against her.
“There are now doubts within Defence over whether Campbell will return from leave after the royal commission made a range of scathing findings …” SMH 08/08
Lizardbreath, it would be comical if it wasn’t reality, that PM Albo did the complete opposite of what everyone knows needed to be done by the removing of Kathryn Campbell from any position held.
PM Albo’s fast tracked creation of her new plum job IS a promotion, we all know it.
It is indefensible, an insult to the victims and PM Albo and he should be grownup enough to admit he got this completely wrong and now rectify his massive error.
Where was the SHADOW Minister and where were our local ALP members when this was happening. Sadly the ALP is all about career public servants being gifted SAFE seats and then doing nothing for the people. Don’t forget Shorten was the guy who wanted to punish women who were made redundant by the Banks and Telstra while promising that imputation credits would not change for politicians and the wealthy.
Where was the shadow minister? Please see above. Shorten was the one who wanted to do away with franking credits.
Mike, “Where was the SHADOW Minister”, huh.
Where were you when Linda Burney and then Bill Shorten in their times as Shadow Ministerial roles raised the alarm and kept ringing the alarm over RoboDebt.
And the Greens, to their credit, did some great work in Senate Estimates and the media 👍
The trouble with conservatives is they are essentially classist, racist and lack empathy. It affects everything they do.
How can any right thinking person ever vote for these morons. ? If you do please can you explain why on these pages. I would be very interested to know. I am 80 and in all my life I have never understood right wing politics. Thanks
Yes, and I want to know why anyone would vote for
these Super Morons, & that’s praising them!
They are the Conservative Centre. The right wing doesn’t like them either, thus they keep loosing.
The right wing you suggest, would have no welfare state at all. No chance of robodebt occurring!
‘Right Wing’ is a big tent. If those guys who wear black and have a bad case of stiff arm were to get in power, you would end up with a far more extensive welfare system than you have now. National Socialists really are socialists. My guys would grandfather out the old system, and implement a different way of providing a safety net, that is far more resistant to forming ‘welfare traps’.
Oh, so those concentration camps were really homeless shelters?
Ronald, best not look Saturday’s Fadden by-election result – a swing to the RoboDebt LNP Party. How does one explain that?????
Joachim my man, how does one explain the halving of the Greens vote in that same bi-election, it was sort of status quo for the LNP and Labor, but the Greens (the party of renters), really copped a serve from the voters, OUCH.
Keith yes, OUCH for the Greens but that’s your usual ploy of avoid, distract and divert away from your ALP mob’s failure – a disastrous result in the Fadden by-election for the ALP, OUCH.
Keith old son, avoid and evade that your ALP mob just lost in Fadden byelection the vote increase they had gained at the May 2022 Federal Election.
Keith old son, its only taken a bit over 12months for the voters to move on from ex-PM Scott Morrison and score your ALP mob on their record in governing. Your ALP mob can’t hide anymore, blaming the LNP and Greens all the time has been worn out.
Keith, your ALP mob is on the slide, not even having Peter Dutton as Opposition leader saved your ALP mob in Fadden. Keith, it doesn’t much worse than that except….Election 2025 is looking an ugly prospect for your ALP mob. Maybe Greens preference votes, that you so highly value, will be enough to help your ALP fall over the line again, O U C H!
Joachim my good man, I don’t take anything you post seriously, your just making stuff up, but it’s good to finally see you admit that rogue Greens like yourself are actively campaigning for the removal of the Albanese Govt and would be welcoming the return of a Coalition Govt, that scenario makes even less sense than your deceptive repetitive whinging.
Keith, I really think we should leave Joachim alone for a while. It’s really not fair to keep giving someone encouragement to sound ever more ridiculous.
It’s also futile. I’ve decided I have better avenues to pursue.
Thank you David for this article. Robodebt is a stark reminder to all Australians of the vicious aspirant dangers lurking within the psyches of many Australian conservative political class. Morrison has ascended in politics by concentrating on cruelty to humans and violating legalities pertaining to International Human Rights.. Read “Escape from Manus”…”Freedom only Freedom” addressing the dismissal/violation of International Rights for Refugees and the most horrendous insertion of active para-military oppressive technologies further violating any principles addressing Human Rights. These Business Technologies existing in Australian Prisons! Think of Deaths in Custody!
Of course , if we follow the dots of a Morrison mindset any job in persecution/military/warfare is a perfect ….!!!!??? He did, maybe still has, the trophy of his ‘stop the boats” campaign in his office. No insight into the deaths by drowning of desperate people escaping Wars, persecution etc. Think deeply Aussies before you vote! You could be inviting your own oppression.
Jo Faith, well said.
Jason Clare described Peter Dutton as having “the empathy of rock” over his/Dutton responses to the RC Report.
It is Scott Morrison, who was “the rock” that smashed thousands of innocent Aussies and he didn’t bat an eyelid.
But we knew his ‘form’ from his time as Immigration Minister, as you outlined.
And we knew his character from his weasel words ‘apology’ – again it was ‘The System’ wot dunit – in response to the RC into Aged Care.
Punching down on innocent victims, no matter who they are, just everyday sport for Scott Morrison.
Whatever the spin and rhetoric of the Coalition of the Lying, the facts are that every single one of the Robo-Debt victims were working and went on the unemployment benefit for a period, there were no bludgers. They were our friends, sisters brothers, sons and daughters, Australian’s!
I agree with the Commissioners finding that the way the coalition used the media to demonise their victims ad silence them, was really some of the most disgusting low points in her findings.
Anyone concerned about these usual media suspects the Coalition use to attack and demonise anyone that stands against the Coalition should read David Crows book, Venom, page 182. And see the names listed there and just how incredibly corrupt our media and the Coalition are! There are copies of this book at your local Library. I just cannot believe this can happen in a democracy but it does and these same usual suspects are doing it right now, with the contrived No vote lies to the voice, exactly how they did it with Robo-Debt!
Peta Credlin had an opinion piece in last Sunday’s Murdoch papers regarding Robodebt, she made the astounding comment that “mistakes were made”, seriously, the human tragedy that resulted was not because of “mistakes”, it was because of malicious intent; this appalling claim is exactly why these dangerous arch conservatives need to be kept out of Govt forever. A huge thank you to all the great people in the Albanese Labor Govt for following through with their election promise and bringing these Coalition arseholes to justice, watch this space for more to come.
Election promises keith ?…your electricity costs
Will be cheaper under labor ..Albos commitment
To the punters prior to the election.. $ 275 keith ?
Now power bills are about to rise 30% under
Labor ..cost of living pressures for families
Everything is rising and wages have gone backwards.. fuel keith ? Why are we paying $2
Bucks at the bowser ! This government can only
Blame the Ukrainian conflict for so long ..Ablo & co
Are raking in the profits from the fuel taxes/ levy
Brent crude is $76 a barrel.. albo can only hide
Behind i was raised by a single mother in housing commission for so long keith that was 45 years ago
When was the last time he or that waste of space
Bowen had to struggle for a 2 litre milk ?
To top labor are about to open the doors up to
1.7 million more who will can Australia home in the next 15 months ..where are they going to live Keith ? Australia dos not have the Infrastructures
To handle such migration numbers .. and one thing
Is certain Keith if Bowen/ Brandt keep going
Down this destroy the resources industries at any cost road.. ! We are F .. Because they wont have those record profits from Coal & Gas to fund welfare , hospitals, Roads , schools etc ..
Renewable energies will bring in Zero Profits..
What then keith ?
Barrow, on the $275 cheaper electricity, to be fair to the ALP the promise made was, “…by 2025”.
On, “Renewable energies will bring in Zero Profits..”, you have it the wrong way around.
The Fossil Fuel Economy is heading for closure and with it the revenues / profits that will be going, going, gone.
Industries rise and fall and we’ll see it play before our eyes with the rise of The Green Economy replacing a redundant Fossil Fuel Economy.
Green Hydrogen, Green Ammonia, Green Steel, Processing Critical Minerals needed and used in the Green Economy, these are some of what is coming with Green Economy using renewable energies….. and bringing in your $’sProfits