‘Nod and a wink’ to bury damning report into robodebt
The royal commissioner examining the robodebt scheme has suggested the department responsible may have given a "nod and a wink" to bury a damning report.
inquiry
Minister denies responsibility for robodebt legal check
Former human services minister Alan Tudge has denied responsibility for his department's failure to check the legality of the robodebt scheme.
Ex-minister says he wasn’t given robodebt legal advice
Former social services minister Christian Porter has told the robodebt royal commission he never received legal advice that raised issues with the scheme.
Minister asked for files on robodebt whistleblowers
A media adviser to former minister Alan Tudge has told a royal commission he requested the Centrelink files of those who spoke out in the media on robodebt.
‘Stretched resources’ behind no advice
The royal commission into robodebt has heard a decision not to obtain external legal advice on the scheme was due to stretched resources in the department.
NSW rail body at risk: Auditor-General
The NSW Auditor-General says a beleaguered body set up to manage the state's rail assets is "at risk" and imposes a financial burden on future governments.
Department ignored robodebt legal advice
Senior officials in departments administering the Centrelink robodebt scheme ignored key legal advice saying the program was illegal.
Heart attack killed prisoner in parole bid
A man serving 10 years for manslaughter died of a heart attack in his prison cell less than two weeks after applying for parole, an inquest has been told.
Lawyer ignored tribunal’s robodebt finding
A government lawyer told staff they could keep using an unlawful debt collection method as long as they'd tried other ways first, a royal commission has heard.
‘Flawed assumptions’ underpinned robodebt
A Human Services department official admits the legal framework behind the robodebt scheme contained "flawed assumptions".
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.