‘Flawed assumptions’ underpinned robodebt
A Human Services department official admits the legal framework behind the robodebt scheme contained "flawed assumptions".
inquiry
Victim’s terror over false $65k robodebt
An aged pensioner has spoken of the terror and trauma when hit with a false $65,000 debt thanks to the unlawful robodebt income calculation method.
‘Horror budget’ paved the way for robodebt
Successive Liberal government crackdowns on welfare fraud led many on social services to feel like criminals and paved the way for robodebt, an inquiry heard.
Indigenous women, kids at risk in custody
Indigenous women and children are among the most vulnerable and largely over-represented groups in custody, a truth-telling inquiry has been told.
Morrison clashes with robodebt inquiry
Former PM Scott Morrison has claimed he was not privy to departmental discussions over the legality of robodebt in a colourful royal commission hearing.
Robodebt concerns ‘dropped’ from briefings
Former minister Marise Payne says she doesn't know how concerns over the legality of the controversial robodebt scheme were left out of policy proposals.
ATO ‘passive’ in providing robodebt data
Senior ATO staff failed to pursue concerns about the robodebt program despite sensing issues with how the personal tax information it provided was being used.
Top officials shut down robodebt criticism
A senior public servant has told the robodebt royal commission he was instructed to not "go in so hard" questioning the legality of the disastrous scheme.
Robodebt proposals created amid ‘pressure’
A public servant has denied at the robodebt royal commission that income averaging was fundamental to proposals, while telling of "ever-increasing" workloads.
Morrison was warned robodebt unlawful
Former prime minister Scott Morrison was warned the robodebt scheme would require law changes, but it was implemented anyway without any legislative tweaks.
Calls for boost to social security payment
An inquiry into poverty in Australia has heard calls to increase social security payments to help meet the rising cost of living.
Morrison’s secrecy appeal before hearing
Former prime minister Scott Morrison is asking for redacted documents to be opened up to the public before he fronts the robodebt royal commission.
Health ‘not set up’ for long-COVID in kids
The NSW health system is not well organised to manage long-COVID cases among children, a federal parliamentary inquiry has been told.
Robodebt officials ‘co-wrote’ vital report
Human Services department officials had the opportunity to contribute to a Commonwealth Ombudsman report
Back to battle for ex soldier seeking help
A former soldier has told an inquiry her efforts to get support from veterans' affairs felt like she never left the battlefield.
Ecstasy for ex-soldier to help ease trauma
Ex-soldier James Geercke has described how military training left him with lasting physical and mental injuries, with little support from Veterans Affairs.
Suspect DNA method used for years in Qld
Problems with mould led to a change in the DNA gathering process at Queensland crime scenes, but no one verified its effectiveness, an inquiry has been told.
Morrison ministries ‘corrosive’ of trust
A report by former High Court judge Virginia Bell into Scott Morrison's secret self-appointment to multiple ministries has been handed to the government.
Qld inquiry focuses on murder DNA failure
Public hearings into the Queensland government-run Forensic and Scientific Services lab have resumed, with the final report due within weeks.
Qld cop perpetrators face sack in reforms
Queensland's top cop will this week start issuing show-cause notices to police officers involved in past cases of bullying, harassment, abuse or assault.
Queensland Police to be restructured after domestic violence report
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will restructure the police force to stamp out a culture of sexism, racism and misogyny, but the top cop will stay.
Qld cops face restructure after DV report
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will restructure the police force to stamp out a culture of sexism, racism and misogyny, but the top cop will stay.
Guy referred to IBAC as Vic election looms
Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has proclaimed his innocence after being referred to the anti-corruption watchdog over an alleged political donor deal.
Watchdog probing Townsville casino junkets
Queensland's casino regulator is still probing Townville's Ville Resort-Casino over allegations it offered patrons illegal junkets.
Folbigg’s DNA variant ‘exceptionally rare’
A rare genetic variant affecting the heart is the focus of a second inquiry into the conviction of Kathleen Folbigg, three years on from the first inquiry.
Folbigg gene a ‘bad variant’, inquiry told
The rare genetic variant affecting an essential building block of life was discovered nine years after Kathleen Folbigg was convicted of killing her children.
Qld top cop ‘hopes to survive’ scandals
Queensland's police commissioner says she needs more time to fix the culture of sexism, misogyny and racism in the police force after three years in the role.
Public servant ‘ashamed’ about robodebt
An ex-deputy department secretary says she should have done more to stop the robodebt scheme from running as long as it did but she "lacked courage".
Robodebt rolled out despite pilot problems
Two senior public servants involved in the robodebt program have given evidence to the royal commission about how it was rolled out despite legal issues.
Big demand for free defence legal service
A free legal service for veterans and defence force members has received a large number of calls from across the country.
Tas premier says sorry to abuse survivors
Tasmania's premier has delivered a formal apology to victim-survivors of child sexual abuse in state institutions after harrowing evidence at an inquiry.