27th Aug 2020 – Senate Motions - Pensions and Benefits - Establish Robodebt Royal Commission

The same number of senators voted for and against a motion introduced by NSW Senator Deborah O'Neill (Labor), which means it failed.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Government's unlawful 'Robodebt' scheme has:

(A) caused hardship for working Australians who paid faulty debts,

(B) had consequences for mental health including being linked to suicide,

(C) negatively impacted people's credit ratings, and

(D) created a 'climate of fear' among ordinary Australians,

(ii) despite four years of warnings, the Government failed to address the fundamental flaws of 'Robodebt',

(iii) the Government has admitted that 'Robodebt' was unlawful,

(iv) the 'Robodebt' scheme has likely cost more to implement than was recouped through stand-over tactics, debt collectors and tax returns,

(v) the current Prime Minister and Attorney-General were involved in 'Robodebt's' design and implementation as the Treasurer and Social Services Minister,

(vi) the Government has attempted to cover up the 'Robodebt' scandal through a public interest immunity claim in the Senate and the Federal Court,

(vii) it is in the public interest to uncover the circumstances under which a government unlawfully took money from its own people, and

(viii) a Royal Commission is the only forum with the coercive powers and broad jurisdiction necessary to properly perform this investigation; and

(b) calls on the Government to immediately establish a Royal Commission into 'Robodebt'.