The Morrison Government has made a last minute, pre-trial admission conceding it owes Robodebt victims their money back plus compensation. This is likely to total more than $1 billion the Government owes victims of the Robodebt scheme.

The settlement, for approximately 400,000 class action members, is both the most costly and involves the most people of any settlement by an Australian Government.

The settlement is justice for victims who have been treated terribly by the Morrison Government.

For years, the Morrison Government has been in denial about Robodebt’s fairness and legality, even after the defective Robodebt system has wreaked a trail of carnage across the nation resulting in anxiety, poverty and even suicides.

It is only after the prospect of Coalition Ministers, such as former Minister for Human Services Alan Tudge, having to take the witness stand to answer questions on what they knew that the Government has now agreed to fairly pay back victims.

What is the dirty secret about Robodebt’s origins that the Government does not want anyone to know?

Were they told it was illegal and ignored the advice? Or did they not check its legality at all before unleashing it on an unsuspecting public?

How much extra in taxpayers’ money has the Morrison Government wasted fighting this unwinnable case?

Only a Royal Commission into Robodebt will give the public the answers they deserve.

In the meantime Mr Morrison must explain what the consequences will be for Ministers including Mr Tudge and Government Services Minister Stuart Robert for their involvement in the single greatest social security scandal in this nation’s history, and the subsequent cover-up.

MONDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 2020

MEDIA CONTACT: LIAM HOULIHAN 0438 366 400