The Australian Public Service Commissioner released its report on the findings of its investigation into 16 individuals referred to it with respect to their role in Robodebt.
The review found that former agency heads Kathryn Campbell and Renée Leon breached the Code of Conduct 25 times in sum, with the total breaches identified by the Commission amounting to 97 by 12 people.
As Kathryn Campbell and Renée Leon are no longer in the public service, the Commissioner was unable to apply sanctions to them. Instead, the Commissioner requires them to state that they had adverse findings made against them if they seek employment, a contract or a consultancy with the Australian Public Service within the next five years.
ACOSS’s concern has always rested with the people affected by the scheme and their families. For a scheme that unlawfully hounded people for money they did not owe over several years, it’s shameful that very little accountability has come to pass for those responsible for its design, implementation and continuation. Almost five years after Robodebt was found to be unlawful by the Federal Court, no Minister has been penalised with respect to the scheme. No compensation scheme has been established despite the extensive harm caused.
The Royal Commission found that Robodebt was “was a costly failure of public administration, in both human and economic terms”, that “made many people feel like criminals”.
ACOSS calls on the Federal Government to implement the Robodebt Royal Commission recommendations in full as quickly as possible, including reinstating the statute of limitations on debt recovery. ACOSS also urges the Federal Government to do all it can to improve decision-making in social services to ensure policies and legislation do not cause harm or exacerbate the difficult circumstances faced by people receiving income support payments.
