The horror stories behind the infamous Robodebt scheme are still coming out of the woodwork, courtesy of a slew of public submissions by Centrelink employees—past and present.

Unveiled just days before the Royal Commission findings on Robodebt, the raw recollections portray a system that was 'dodgy' from the start.

For those unfamiliar with the term, Robodebt is shorthand for an automated system implemented near the middle of the last decade.

Active from 2015 to 2019, this automated method calculated welfare recipients' alleged debts by matching their reported pay with supposed yearly incomes. The scheme worked by averaging data from the Australian Taxation Office, distributing debt notices to over 443,000 welfare recipients.

Centrelink staff and public servants who worked through the Robodebt period are 'still struggling' with the impact their work had on clients. Credit: Shutterstock.

However, according to several Centrelink employees, the system was flawed from the get-go. Gareth Mills, a former Services Australia employee, testified that the Robodebt experience had an impact profound enough to turn his once-rewarding job into a nightmare.

In his revelation, he expressed a gnawing frustration towards higher-ups, who allegedly seemed blind to issues arising from the scheme.

'Throughout my experience, I have felt a great sense of frustration that the people who had control of this scheme were missing the key point,' he said.

'The record shows that this scheme was not lawful. Workers undertaking this work had that view from the beginning and shared it with their managers.'

Staff members, aware of the flaws of the system they were expected to uphold, raised their concerns right up the ranks, only to have them fall on 'deaf ears'. If due to callous indifference or intentional wrongdoing, how these concerns were ignored remains to be determined.

Submissions by other long-term Centrelink workers reveal a chilling narrative of alienation.

Employees like Kaye Fagan, who was employed at a customer service centre from 2014 to 2018, recounted how staff were aware that the process behind Robodebt was 'illegal'. She said they were neither warned nor briefed about the new process as well. Ms Fagan eventually left her role following 22 years of dedicated service, no longer willing to be a part of an organisation that 'showed little respect for natural justice'.

Stephen Fuller, a dedicated public servant with experience in both the Department of Social Services and Centrelink, expressed his deep concern regarding the situation. With a commitment to upholding the 'highest standards', Fuller emphasised his disappointment in the way the Commonwealth Public Service has been utilised and managed.

'[It] has destroyed lives and severely diminished the reputation of the service upon which Australian democracy relies,' he said.

Andrea Therese Leck testified before the Royal Commission, recounting her employment with the department in July 2015. Her role involved undergoing training and overseeing the implementation of the Robodebt system, which launched merely two weeks after her training commenced.

During her testimony, Leck revealed that she and her colleagues repeatedly raised concerns about the legality and ethical implications of the process to the department's leadership. Unfortunately, their warnings went unheard, as no action was taken to address the issue.

'A few staff went to the union to advise what was going on, and then we found out there had been a client suicide due to the process,' she shared.

'I am still struggling with this.'

Credit: ABC News (Australia)​

Julie Holmes, a dedicated employee across the Department of Social Services (DSS), Department of Human Services (DHS), and Centrelink for over two decades, put it into stark perspective.

'I resigned from work at the age of 55, at least five years before I had intended to,' she revealed, attributing her early departure to the stress of implementing Robodebt, a system she deemed from the get-go as 'legally dubious at best and completely illegal at worst'.

Key Takeaways

• Centrelink staff and public servants have revealed they are still grappling with the impact of the 'Robodebt' system on their clients.
• Many staff members claim they knew the system was problematic and attempted to raise their concerns with superiors, only for those concerns to go unheard.
• Several individuals who took part in the Royal Commission into the system have come forward to share their submissions detailing the profound impact it had not only on themselves but also on their colleagues.
• Some former employees indicated they left Centrelink due to the stress and dissatisfaction associated with implementing the 'Robodebt' system.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis and requires immediate assistance, please dial triple zero (000) without delay. Another available option is to reach out to Lifeline at 13 11 14, as they offer their services round the clock, every day of the week.

While we are not medical professionals, we are always here to lend an ear. There are, however, several organisations that provide specialised support and education for people with mental illness and their families and carers throughout Australia.

Some of the main groups are listed here in this article.

Hopefully, the Commission's findings lead to reforms that make situations like Robodebt a thing of the past.

Here at the Seniors Discount Club, we empathise with all the individuals who have been victimised by the flaws in the Centrelink system—be they recipients or workers. It is our sincere wish that justice prevails for all those who have suffered the consequences of this unethical practice.

We are keen to hear your thoughts on this matter, so please take a moment to share your insights with us in the comments section below.

 

[Chrisalis]

Justice? There can be no justice for those who were made to suffer for politicians lack of concern. The politicians must be prosecuted without access to Legal Aid to ensure that their assets which they gained while emoployed in service of the public are returned to their rightful owners - the public who have suffered. As for the employees in Centrelink they too should be prosecuted - many of them are put in positions beyond their capability only on seniority and they intend to keep it that way no matter what the cost. The Department Heads and their lackies must be prosecuted made to pay the price of their insensitivity and greed.

 

[baclo]

The horror stories behind the infamous Robodebt scheme are still coming out of the woodwork, courtesy of a slew of public submissions by Centrelink employees—past and present.

Unveiled just days before the Royal Commission findings on Robodebt, the raw recollections portray a system that was 'dodgy' from the start.

For those unfamiliar with the term, Robodebt is shorthand for an automated system implemented near the middle of the last decade.

Active from 2015 to 2019, this automated method calculated welfare recipients' alleged debts by matching their reported pay with supposed yearly incomes. The scheme worked by averaging data from the Australian Taxation Office, distributing debt notices to over 443,000 welfare recipients.

View attachment 24578

Centrelink staff and public servants who worked through the Robodebt period are 'still struggling' with the impact their work had on clients. Credit: Shutterstock.

However, according to several Centrelink employees, the system was flawed from the get-go. Gareth Mills, a former Services Australia employee, testified that the Robodebt experience had an impact profound enough to turn his once-rewarding job into a nightmare.

In his revelation, he expressed a gnawing frustration towards higher-ups, who allegedly seemed blind to issues arising from the scheme.

'Throughout my experience, I have felt a great sense of frustration that the people who had control of this scheme were missing the key point,' he said.

'The record shows that this scheme was not lawful. Workers undertaking this work had that view from the beginning and shared it with their managers.'

Staff members, aware of the flaws of the system they were expected to uphold, raised their concerns right up the ranks, only to have them fall on 'deaf ears'. If due to callous indifference or intentional wrongdoing, how these concerns were ignored remains to be determined.

Submissions by other long-term Centrelink workers reveal a chilling narrative of alienation.

Employees like Kaye Fagan, who was employed at a customer service centre from 2014 to 2018, recounted how staff were aware that the process behind Robodebt was 'illegal'. She said they were neither warned nor briefed about the new process as well. Ms Fagan eventually left her role following 22 years of dedicated service, no longer willing to be a part of an organisation that 'showed little respect for natural justice'.

Stephen Fuller, a dedicated public servant with experience in both the Department of Social Services and Centrelink, expressed his deep concern regarding the situation. With a commitment to upholding the 'highest standards', Fuller emphasised his disappointment in the way the Commonwealth Public Service has been utilised and managed.

'[It] has destroyed lives and severely diminished the reputation of the service upon which Australian democracy relies,' he said.

Andrea Therese Leck testified before the Royal Commission, recounting her employment with the department in July 2015. Her role involved undergoing training and overseeing the implementation of the Robodebt system, which launched merely two weeks after her training commenced.

During her testimony, Leck revealed that she and her colleagues repeatedly raised concerns about the legality and ethical implications of the process to the department's leadership. Unfortunately, their warnings went unheard, as no action was taken to address the issue.

'A few staff went to the union to advise what was going on, and then we found out there had been a client suicide due to the process,' she shared.

'I am still struggling with this.'

Credit: ABC News (Australia)​

Julie Holmes, a dedicated employee across the Department of Social Services (DSS), Department of Human Services (DHS), and Centrelink for over two decades, put it into stark perspective.

'I resigned from work at the age of 55, at least five years before I had intended to,' she revealed, attributing her early departure to the stress of implementing Robodebt, a system she deemed from the get-go as 'legally dubious at best and completely illegal at worst'.

Key Takeaways

• Centrelink staff and public servants have revealed they are still grappling with the impact of the 'Robodebt' system on their clients.
• Many staff members claim they knew the system was problematic and attempted to raise their concerns with superiors, only for those concerns to go unheard.
• Several individuals who took part in the Royal Commission into the system have come forward to share their submissions detailing the profound impact it had not only on themselves but also on their colleagues.
• Some former employees indicated they left Centrelink due to the stress and dissatisfaction associated with implementing the 'Robodebt' system.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis and requires immediate assistance, please dial triple zero (000) without delay. Another available option is to reach out to Lifeline at 13 11 14, as they offer their services round the clock, every day of the week.

While we are not medical professionals, we are always here to lend an ear. There are, however, several organisations that provide specialised support and education for people with mental illness and their families and carers throughout Australia.

Some of the main groups are listed here in this article.

Hopefully, the Commission's findings lead to reforms that make situations like Robodebt a thing of the past.

Here at the Seniors Discount Club, we empathise with all the individuals who have been victimised by the flaws in the Centrelink system—be they recipients or workers. It is our sincere wish that justice prevails for all those who have suffered the consequences of this unethical practice.

We are keen to hear your thoughts on this matter, so please take a moment to share your insights with us in the comments section below.

It is about time the common law God's Law be applied to these criminals. They are still deducting monies from my pension, where is the justice, God Bless Us All, regards Lolla

 

[loulou555]

I was a victim of robodebt also and had almost $25000 stolen by Centrelink. I want to see everyone who was affected have their money returned and the Morrison Govt. should be imprisoned for murder and theft. People may then start to give governments a little more credibility. Return all the money taken..

 

[MaggieMay1948]

The horror stories behind the infamous Robodebt scheme are still coming out of the woodwork, courtesy of a slew of public submissions by Centrelink employees—past and present.

Unveiled just days before the Royal Commission findings on Robodebt, the raw recollections portray a system that was 'dodgy' from the start.

For those unfamiliar with the term, Robodebt is shorthand for an automated system implemented near the middle of the last decade.

Active from 2015 to 2019, this automated method calculated welfare recipients' alleged debts by matching their reported pay with supposed yearly incomes. The scheme worked by averaging data from the Australian Taxation Office, distributing debt notices to over 443,000 welfare recipients.

View attachment 24578

Centrelink staff and public servants who worked through the Robodebt period are 'still struggling' with the impact their work had on clients. Credit: Shutterstock.

However, according to several Centrelink employees, the system was flawed from the get-go. Gareth Mills, a former Services Australia employee, testified that the Robodebt experience had an impact profound enough to turn his once-rewarding job into a nightmare.

In his revelation, he expressed a gnawing frustration towards higher-ups, who allegedly seemed blind to issues arising from the scheme.

'Throughout my experience, I have felt a great sense of frustration that the people who had control of this scheme were missing the key point,' he said.

'The record shows that this scheme was not lawful. Workers undertaking this work had that view from the beginning and shared it with their managers.'

Staff members, aware of the flaws of the system they were expected to uphold, raised their concerns right up the ranks, only to have them fall on 'deaf ears'. If due to callous indifference or intentional wrongdoing, how these concerns were ignored remains to be determined.

Submissions by other long-term Centrelink workers reveal a chilling narrative of alienation.

Employees like Kaye Fagan, who was employed at a customer service centre from 2014 to 2018, recounted how staff were aware that the process behind Robodebt was 'illegal'. She said they were neither warned nor briefed about the new process as well. Ms Fagan eventually left her role following 22 years of dedicated service, no longer willing to be a part of an organisation that 'showed little respect for natural justice'.

Stephen Fuller, a dedicated public servant with experience in both the Department of Social Services and Centrelink, expressed his deep concern regarding the situation. With a commitment to upholding the 'highest standards', Fuller emphasised his disappointment in the way the Commonwealth Public Service has been utilised and managed.

'[It] has destroyed lives and severely diminished the reputation of the service upon which Australian democracy relies,' he said.

Andrea Therese Leck testified before the Royal Commission, recounting her employment with the department in July 2015. Her role involved undergoing training and overseeing the implementation of the Robodebt system, which launched merely two weeks after her training commenced.

During her testimony, Leck revealed that she and her colleagues repeatedly raised concerns about the legality and ethical implications of the process to the department's leadership. Unfortunately, their warnings went unheard, as no action was taken to address the issue.

'A few staff went to the union to advise what was going on, and then we found out there had been a client suicide due to the process,' she shared.

'I am still struggling with this.'

Credit: ABC News (Australia)​

Julie Holmes, a dedicated employee across the Department of Social Services (DSS), Department of Human Services (DHS), and Centrelink for over two decades, put it into stark perspective.

'I resigned from work at the age of 55, at least five years before I had intended to,' she revealed, attributing her early departure to the stress of implementing Robodebt, a system she deemed from the get-go as 'legally dubious at best and completely illegal at worst'.

Key Takeaways

• Centrelink staff and public servants have revealed they are still grappling with the impact of the 'Robodebt' system on their clients.
• Many staff members claim they knew the system was problematic and attempted to raise their concerns with superiors, only for those concerns to go unheard.
• Several individuals who took part in the Royal Commission into the system have come forward to share their submissions detailing the profound impact it had not only on themselves but also on their colleagues.
• Some former employees indicated they left Centrelink due to the stress and dissatisfaction associated with implementing the 'Robodebt' system.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis and requires immediate assistance, please dial triple zero (000) without delay. Another available option is to reach out to Lifeline at 13 11 14, as they offer their services round the clock, every day of the week.

While we are not medical professionals, we are always here to lend an ear. There are, however, several organisations that provide specialised support and education for people with mental illness and their families and carers throughout Australia.

Some of the main groups are listed here in this article.

Hopefully, the Commission's findings lead to reforms that make situations like Robodebt a thing of the past.

Here at the Seniors Discount Club, we empathise with all the individuals who have been victimised by the flaws in the Centrelink system—be they recipients or workers. It is our sincere wish that justice prevails for all those who have suffered the consequences of this unethical practice.

We are keen to hear your thoughts on this matter, so please take a moment to share your insights with us in the comments section below.

All I can say about this horrendous scheme and complete disregard fir human welfare is that every single politician and public servant involved in its illegal implementation, "management" and imposition on unsuspecting individuals should be prosecuted to the nth degree in the criminal courts and every single one if them MUST be fired and kicked out with no pensions, golden handshakes. NOTHING! THEY ARE NOT FIT TO RUN OUR COUNTRY.
They belong in gaol

 

[saundy]

The crap I went through to get a PART age pension was unbelievable it took several months and trips to the local Centrelink office to get the payment which I was entitled to but they didn't want to pay for some reason.
Thanks again Maddie your assistance was greatly appreciated.
I should have never been put through that crap and the stress is caused me. Government paper shuffling at it's best.
I truly hope these people in these positions are prosecution to every extent of the law and get what they deserve

The horror stories behind the infamous Robodebt scheme are still coming out of the woodwork, courtesy of a slew of public submissions by Centrelink employees—past and present.

Unveiled just days before the Royal Commission findings on Robodebt, the raw recollections portray a system that was 'dodgy' from the start.

For those unfamiliar with the term, Robodebt is shorthand for an automated system implemented near the middle of the last decade.

Active from 2015 to 2019, this automated method calculated welfare recipients' alleged debts by matching their reported pay with supposed yearly incomes. The scheme worked by averaging data from the Australian Taxation Office, distributing debt notices to over 443,000 welfare recipients.

View attachment 24578

Centrelink staff and public servants who worked through the Robodebt period are 'still struggling' with the impact their work had on clients. Credit: Shutterstock.

However, according to several Centrelink employees, the system was flawed from the get-go. Gareth Mills, a former Services Australia employee, testified that the Robodebt experience had an impact profound enough to turn his once-rewarding job into a nightmare.

In his revelation, he expressed a gnawing frustration towards higher-ups, who allegedly seemed blind to issues arising from the scheme.

'Throughout my experience, I have felt a great sense of frustration that the people who had control of this scheme were missing the key point,' he said.

'The record shows that this scheme was not lawful. Workers undertaking this work had that view from the beginning and shared it with their managers.'

Staff members, aware of the flaws of the system they were expected to uphold, raised their concerns right up the ranks, only to have them fall on 'deaf ears'. If due to callous indifference or intentional wrongdoing, how these concerns were ignored remains to be determined.

Submissions by other long-term Centrelink workers reveal a chilling narrative of alienation.

Employees like Kaye Fagan, who was employed at a customer service centre from 2014 to 2018, recounted how staff were aware that the process behind Robodebt was 'illegal'. She said they were neither warned nor briefed about the new process as well. Ms Fagan eventually left her role following 22 years of dedicated service, no longer willing to be a part of an organisation that 'showed little respect for natural justice'.

Stephen Fuller, a dedicated public servant with experience in both the Department of Social Services and Centrelink, expressed his deep concern regarding the situation. With a commitment to upholding the 'highest standards', Fuller emphasised his disappointment in the way the Commonwealth Public Service has been utilised and managed.

'[It] has destroyed lives and severely diminished the reputation of the service upon which Australian democracy relies,' he said.

Andrea Therese Leck testified before the Royal Commission, recounting her employment with the department in July 2015. Her role involved undergoing training and overseeing the implementation of the Robodebt system, which launched merely two weeks after her training commenced.

During her testimony, Leck revealed that she and her colleagues repeatedly raised concerns about the legality and ethical implications of the process to the department's leadership. Unfortunately, their warnings went unheard, as no action was taken to address the issue.

'A few staff went to the union to advise what was going on, and then we found out there had been a client suicide due to the process,' she shared.

'I am still struggling with this.'

Credit: ABC News (Australia)​

Julie Holmes, a dedicated employee across the Department of Social Services (DSS), Department of Human Services (DHS), and Centrelink for over two decades, put it into stark perspective.

'I resigned from work at the age of 55, at least five years before I had intended to,' she revealed, attributing her early departure to the stress of implementing Robodebt, a system she deemed from the get-go as 'legally dubious at best and completely illegal at worst'.

Key Takeaways

• Centrelink staff and public servants have revealed they are still grappling with the impact of the 'Robodebt' system on their clients.
• Many staff members claim they knew the system was problematic and attempted to raise their concerns with superiors, only for those concerns to go unheard.
• Several individuals who took part in the Royal Commission into the system have come forward to share their submissions detailing the profound impact it had not only on themselves but also on their colleagues.
• Some former employees indicated they left Centrelink due to the stress and dissatisfaction associated with implementing the 'Robodebt' system.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis and requires immediate assistance, please dial triple zero (000) without delay. Another available option is to reach out to Lifeline at 13 11 14, as they offer their services round the clock, every day of the week.

While we are not medical professionals, we are always here to lend an ear. There are, however, several organisations that provide specialised support and education for people with mental illness and their families and carers throughout Australia.

Some of the main groups are listed here in this article.

Hopefully, the Commission's findings lead to reforms that make situations like Robodebt a thing of the past.

Here at the Seniors Discount Club, we empathise with all the individuals who have been victimised by the flaws in the Centrelink system—be they recipients or workers. It is our sincere wish that justice prevails for all those who have suffered the consequences of this unethical practice.

We are keen to hear your thoughts on this matter, so please take a moment to share your insights with us in the comments section below.

 

[Wen46]

All I can say about this horrendous scheme and complete disregard fir human welfare is that every single politician and public servant involved in its illegal implementation, "management" and imposition on unsuspecting individuals should be prosecuted to the nth degree in the criminal courts and every single one if them MUST be fired and kicked out with no pensions, golden handshakes. NOTHING! THEY ARE NOT FIT TO RUN OUR COUNTRY.
They belong in gaol

Totally agree with everything you have said here. Definitiely no pensions or golden handshakes or any other of the freebies they think they are entitled to after being in politics.

 

[Rain72]

I was a victim of robodebt also and had almost $25000 stolen by Centrelink. I want to see everyone who was affected have their money returned and the Morrison Govt. should be imprisoned for murder and theft. People may then start to give governments a little more credibility. Return all the money taken..

I sympathize deeply and acknowledge the role of the Morrison Government, but let us never forget that the scheme was the brain child of Labor politicians, including Bill Shorten. Had the LNP not won an election, it may well have still been implemented. We will never know. But we should hold the architects of the scheme and their party equally accountable. Let's not make it a political football.

 

[Mindygirl12022]

All that happened to me with Centrelink saying I owed them $9,000 after I shifted to a Unit was extremely stressful. I couldn't prove then whether or not I owed them this money, so just paid it, and over nearly 3 years later I am now granted a full pension. During that time they put up my payments several times, which only added to the stress. I'm a Pensioner, 76 years old now, and as a Widow live alone.

 

[mylittletibbies]

I was not, fortunately, caught up in the robodebt debacle, but 3 times I have been treated like a criminal by Centrelink, always because of "paperwork" problems.
I was put through hours and hours of questions about forms they said I had not submitted, on one occasion I had actually done them 3 times.
On every occasion the error was on their part. I never received as much as an apology for the stress they put me through.

 

[Don’sown]

All that happened to me with Centrelink saying I owed them $9,000 after I shifted to a Unit was extremely stressful. I couldn't prove then whether or not I owed them this money, so just paid it, and over nearly 3 years later I am now granted a full pension. During that time they put up my payments several times, which only added to the stress. I'm a Pensioner, 76 years old now, and as a Widow live alone.

We had no idea as to whether we were entitled to a pension but after a visit to the Brookvale CES office and an awesome lady we had discussions with we found that we were entitled to a part pension and had been for several years, unfortunately we could not claim the pension for the years we were entitled to.

 

[Roysta]

The horror stories behind the infamous Robodebt scheme are still coming out of the woodwork, courtesy of a slew of public submissions by Centrelink employees—past and present.

Unveiled just days before the Royal Commission findings on Robodebt, the raw recollections portray a system that was 'dodgy' from the start.

For those unfamiliar with the term, Robodebt is shorthand for an automated system implemented near the middle of the last decade.

Active from 2015 to 2019, this automated method calculated welfare recipients' alleged debts by matching their reported pay with supposed yearly incomes. The scheme worked by averaging data from the Australian Taxation Office, distributing debt notices to over 443,000 welfare recipients.

View attachment 24578

Centrelink staff and public servants who worked through the Robodebt period are 'still struggling' with the impact their work had on clients. Credit: Shutterstock.

However, according to several Centrelink employees, the system was flawed from the get-go. Gareth Mills, a former Services Australia employee, testified that the Robodebt experience had an impact profound enough to turn his once-rewarding job into a nightmare.

In his revelation, he expressed a gnawing frustration towards higher-ups, who allegedly seemed blind to issues arising from the scheme.

'Throughout my experience, I have felt a great sense of frustration that the people who had control of this scheme were missing the key point,' he said.

'The record shows that this scheme was not lawful. Workers undertaking this work had that view from the beginning and shared it with their managers.'

Staff members, aware of the flaws of the system they were expected to uphold, raised their concerns right up the ranks, only to have them fall on 'deaf ears'. If due to callous indifference or intentional wrongdoing, how these concerns were ignored remains to be determined.

Submissions by other long-term Centrelink workers reveal a chilling narrative of alienation.

Employees like Kaye Fagan, who was employed at a customer service centre from 2014 to 2018, recounted how staff were aware that the process behind Robodebt was 'illegal'. She said they were neither warned nor briefed about the new process as well. Ms Fagan eventually left her role following 22 years of dedicated service, no longer willing to be a part of an organisation that 'showed little respect for natural justice'.

Stephen Fuller, a dedicated public servant with experience in both the Department of Social Services and Centrelink, expressed his deep concern regarding the situation. With a commitment to upholding the 'highest standards', Fuller emphasised his disappointment in the way the Commonwealth Public Service has been utilised and managed.

'[It] has destroyed lives and severely diminished the reputation of the service upon which Australian democracy relies,' he said.

Andrea Therese Leck testified before the Royal Commission, recounting her employment with the department in July 2015. Her role involved undergoing training and overseeing the implementation of the Robodebt system, which launched merely two weeks after her training commenced.

During her testimony, Leck revealed that she and her colleagues repeatedly raised concerns about the legality and ethical implications of the process to the department's leadership. Unfortunately, their warnings went unheard, as no action was taken to address the issue.

'A few staff went to the union to advise what was going on, and then we found out there had been a client suicide due to the process,' she shared.

'I am still struggling with this.'

Credit: ABC News (Australia)​

Julie Holmes, a dedicated employee across the Department of Social Services (DSS), Department of Human Services (DHS), and Centrelink for over two decades, put it into stark perspective.

'I resigned from work at the age of 55, at least five years before I had intended to,' she revealed, attributing her early departure to the stress of implementing Robodebt, a system she deemed from the get-go as 'legally dubious at best and completely illegal at worst'.

Key Takeaways

• Centrelink staff and public servants have revealed they are still grappling with the impact of the 'Robodebt' system on their clients.
• Many staff members claim they knew the system was problematic and attempted to raise their concerns with superiors, only for those concerns to go unheard.
• Several individuals who took part in the Royal Commission into the system have come forward to share their submissions detailing the profound impact it had not only on themselves but also on their colleagues.
• Some former employees indicated they left Centrelink due to the stress and dissatisfaction associated with implementing the 'Robodebt' system.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis and requires immediate assistance, please dial triple zero (000) without delay. Another available option is to reach out to Lifeline at 13 11 14, as they offer their services round the clock, every day of the week.

While we are not medical professionals, we are always here to lend an ear. There are, however, several organisations that provide specialised support and education for people with mental illness and their families and carers throughout Australia.

Some of the main groups are listed here in this article.

Hopefully, the Commission's findings lead to reforms that make situations like Robodebt a thing of the past.

Here at the Seniors Discount Club, we empathise with all the individuals who have been victimised by the flaws in the Centrelink system—be they recipients or workers. It is our sincere wish that justice prevails for all those who have suffered the consequences of this unethical practice.

We are keen to hear your thoughts on this matter, so please take a moment to share your insights with us in the comments section below.

Mr Smug Morrison should face legal action, and be held accountable for his actions, but as usual he will blame everyone else.

 

[Leanne D]

I was a victim of robodebt also and had almost $25000 stolen by Centrelink. I want to see everyone who was affected have their money returned and the Morrison Govt. should be imprisoned for murder and theft. People may then start to give governments a little more credibility. Return all the money taken..

My daughter was/is still paying the debt!

 

[Blimey Charlie]

I sympathize deeply and acknowledge the role of the Morrison Government, but let us never forget that the scheme was the brain child of Labor politicians, including Bill Shorten. Had the LNP not won an election, it may well have still been implemented. We will never know. But we should hold the architects of the scheme and their party equally accountable. Let's not make it a political football.

This assertion is false about the Labor government being the ones who thought up the illegal scheme. The Commissioner stated this in her report. I am an accountant and l know Centrelink were matching their data with people's tax returns but they were not income averaging. No one would go on Centrelink benefits if they thought their income before and after being on benefits would be averaged. It is just plain dumb to do this and it is obvious that the Morrison politicians didn't understand how Centrelink benefits are paid. It is ridiculous to have ministers in charge of a department when they don't understand how the benefits are paid. My friend worked for Centrelink and they told the department back in 2014 that the scheme was wrong and they continued to tell the department heads every day for the next five years of the scheme. The department and the Morrison government would not listen. It is hard to believe that the government and the department could be so completely stupid. It all comes down to demonising welfare recipients and political greed.

 

[Mary-Anne P]

My heart goes out to all those caught up in the Robodebt drama and clearly remember the stories from that time. Sadly Centrelink still like to treat genuine people like criminals. We had a letter sent to my husband dated 25/12/21 asking him to outline where he had spent every cent for the previous six months, if he did not answer this questionnaire his poetry part pension was to be cut off. The stress this caused nearly tripped him into cutting off a pension that he worked hard for.
At the same time, I received a letter with the same questionnaire saying if I didn't answer it, my pension would be cut off. Good luck to them, I worked at the time and was not nor am I now eligible for the aged pension.
The saga goes on.

 

[Sloopy]

I sympathize deeply and acknowledge the role of the Morrison Government, but let us never forget that the scheme was the brain child of Labor politicians, including Bill Shorten. Had the LNP not won an election, it may well have still been implemented. We will never know. But we should hold the architects of the scheme and their party equally accountable. Let's not make it a political football.

No, this wasn't down to the Labor government at all! Income averaging was being used as far back as the Howard government. The key difference between then and the Robodebt scheme was that such averaging was subject to calculations were subject to human oversight, and that the onus of proof was on Centrelink, not the client. I experienced this in 2005, after working a couple of extra shifts a week for about 3 weeks. It was time-consuming, demeaning, and traumatic to sort out even then, but nowhere like under Robodebt.

 

[JayEeGeeP]

I was a victim of robodebt also and had almost $25000 stolen by Centrelink. I want to see everyone who was affected have their money returned and the Morrison Govt. should be imprisoned for murder and theft. People may then start to give governments a little more credibility. Return all the money taken..

Fully agree they should be held responsible for the deaths of the people who felt there was no other way out. All money should be returned out of the pockets of those who implemented the program.

 

[ElizaKaye]

The politicians treated these people the same as the Comcare doctors treat patients. Don't believe them and ignore them as if they were idiots. They should not be working for the good of the public. The surgeons refuse to refer patients onto appropriate more qualified doctors in the areas of stress. Then when you complaian to the Health Dept they just ignore it.

 

[JayEeGeeP]

My heart goes out to all those caught up in the Robodebt drama and clearly remember the stories from that time. Sadly Centrelink still like to treat genuine people like criminals. We had a letter sent to my husband dated 25/12/21 asking him to outline where he had spent every cent for the previous six months, if he did not answer this questionnaire his poetry part pension was to be cut off. The stress this caused nearly tripped him into cutting off a pension that he worked hard for.
At the same time, I received a letter with the same questionnaire saying if I didn't answer it, my pension would be cut off. Good luck to them, I worked at the time and was not nor am I now eligible for the aged pension.
The saga goes on.

Yes, Centrelink staff treat most applicants like criminals trying to rip off the system, I think they forget that their wages are paid by the taxpayer and when aged people apply they are entitled to an age pension after 50 odd years of paying tax.

 

[Tfcw]

The horror stories behind the infamous Robodebt scheme are still coming out of the woodwork, courtesy of a slew of public submissions by Centrelink employees—past and present.

Unveiled just days before the Royal Commission findings on Robodebt, the raw recollections portray a system that was 'dodgy' from the start.

For those unfamiliar with the term, Robodebt is shorthand for an automated system implemented near the middle of the last decade.

Active from 2015 to 2019, this automated method calculated welfare recipients' alleged debts by matching their reported pay with supposed yearly incomes. The scheme worked by averaging data from the Australian Taxation Office, distributing debt notices to over 443,000 welfare recipients.

View attachment 24578

Centrelink staff and public servants who worked through the Robodebt period are 'still struggling' with the impact their work had on clients. Credit: Shutterstock.

However, according to several Centrelink employees, the system was flawed from the get-go. Gareth Mills, a former Services Australia employee, testified that the Robodebt experience had an impact profound enough to turn his once-rewarding job into a nightmare.

In his revelation, he expressed a gnawing frustration towards higher-ups, who allegedly seemed blind to issues arising from the scheme.

'Throughout my experience, I have felt a great sense of frustration that the people who had control of this scheme were missing the key point,' he said.

'The record shows that this scheme was not lawful. Workers undertaking this work had that view from the beginning and shared it with their managers.'

Staff members, aware of the flaws of the system they were expected to uphold, raised their concerns right up the ranks, only to have them fall on 'deaf ears'. If due to callous indifference or intentional wrongdoing, how these concerns were ignored remains to be determined.

Submissions by other long-term Centrelink workers reveal a chilling narrative of alienation.

Employees like Kaye Fagan, who was employed at a customer service centre from 2014 to 2018, recounted how staff were aware that the process behind Robodebt was 'illegal'. She said they were neither warned nor briefed about the new process as well. Ms Fagan eventually left her role following 22 years of dedicated service, no longer willing to be a part of an organisation that 'showed little respect for natural justice'.

Stephen Fuller, a dedicated public servant with experience in both the Department of Social Services and Centrelink, expressed his deep concern regarding the situation. With a commitment to upholding the 'highest standards', Fuller emphasised his disappointment in the way the Commonwealth Public Service has been utilised and managed.

'[It] has destroyed lives and severely diminished the reputation of the service upon which Australian democracy relies,' he said.

Andrea Therese Leck testified before the Royal Commission, recounting her employment with the department in July 2015. Her role involved undergoing training and overseeing the implementation of the Robodebt system, which launched merely two weeks after her training commenced.

During her testimony, Leck revealed that she and her colleagues repeatedly raised concerns about the legality and ethical implications of the process to the department's leadership. Unfortunately, their warnings went unheard, as no action was taken to address the issue.

'A few staff went to the union to advise what was going on, and then we found out there had been a client suicide due to the process,' she shared.

'I am still struggling with this.'

Credit: ABC News (Australia)​

Julie Holmes, a dedicated employee across the Department of Social Services (DSS), Department of Human Services (DHS), and Centrelink for over two decades, put it into stark perspective.

'I resigned from work at the age of 55, at least five years before I had intended to,' she revealed, attributing her early departure to the stress of implementing Robodebt, a system she deemed from the get-go as 'legally dubious at best and completely illegal at worst'.

Key Takeaways

• Centrelink staff and public servants have revealed they are still grappling with the impact of the 'Robodebt' system on their clients.
• Many staff members claim they knew the system was problematic and attempted to raise their concerns with superiors, only for those concerns to go unheard.
• Several individuals who took part in the Royal Commission into the system have come forward to share their submissions detailing the profound impact it had not only on themselves but also on their colleagues.
• Some former employees indicated they left Centrelink due to the stress and dissatisfaction associated with implementing the 'Robodebt' system.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis and requires immediate assistance, please dial triple zero (000) without delay. Another available option is to reach out to Lifeline at 13 11 14, as they offer their services round the clock, every day of the week.

While we are not medical professionals, we are always here to lend an ear. There are, however, several organisations that provide specialised support and education for people with mental illness and their families and carers throughout Australia.

Some of the main groups are listed here in this article.

Hopefully, the Commission's findings lead to reforms that make situations like Robodebt a thing of the past.

Here at the Seniors Discount Club, we empathise with all the individuals who have been victimised by the flaws in the Centrelink system—be they recipients or workers. It is our sincere wish that justice prevails for all those who have suffered the consequences of this unethical practice.

We are keen to hear your thoughts on this matter, so please take a moment to share your insights with us in the comments section below.

The horror stories behind the infamous Robodebt scheme are still coming out of the woodwork, courtesy of a slew of public submissions by Centrelink employees—past and present.

Unveiled just days before the Royal Commission findings on Robodebt, the raw recollections portray a system that was 'dodgy' from the start.

For those unfamiliar with the term, Robodebt is shorthand for an automated system implemented near the middle of the last decade.

Active from 2015 to 2019, this automated method calculated welfare recipients' alleged debts by matching their reported pay with supposed yearly incomes. The scheme worked by averaging data from the Australian Taxation Office, distributing debt notices to over 443,000 welfare recipients.

View attachment 24578

Centrelink staff and public servants who worked through the Robodebt period are 'still struggling' with the impact their work had on clients. Credit: Shutterstock.

However, according to several Centrelink employees, the system was flawed from the get-go. Gareth Mills, a former Services Australia employee, testified that the Robodebt experience had an impact profound enough to turn his once-rewarding job into a nightmare.

In his revelation, he expressed a gnawing frustration towards higher-ups, who allegedly seemed blind to issues arising from the scheme.

'Throughout my experience, I have felt a great sense of frustration that the people who had control of this scheme were missing the key point,' he said.

'The record shows that this scheme was not lawful. Workers undertaking this work had that view from the beginning and shared it with their managers.'

Staff members, aware of the flaws of the system they were expected to uphold, raised their concerns right up the ranks, only to have them fall on 'deaf ears'. If due to callous indifference or intentional wrongdoing, how these concerns were ignored remains to be determined.

Submissions by other long-term Centrelink workers reveal a chilling narrative of alienation.

Employees like Kaye Fagan, who was employed at a customer service centre from 2014 to 2018, recounted how staff were aware that the process behind Robodebt was 'illegal'. She said they were neither warned nor briefed about the new process as well. Ms Fagan eventually left her role following 22 years of dedicated service, no longer willing to be a part of an organisation that 'showed little respect for natural justice'.

Stephen Fuller, a dedicated public servant with experience in both the Department of Social Services and Centrelink, expressed his deep concern regarding the situation. With a commitment to upholding the 'highest standards', Fuller emphasised his disappointment in the way the Commonwealth Public Service has been utilised and managed.

'[It] has destroyed lives and severely diminished the reputation of the service upon which Australian democracy relies,' he said.

Andrea Therese Leck testified before the Royal Commission, recounting her employment with the department in July 2015. Her role involved undergoing training and overseeing the implementation of the Robodebt system, which launched merely two weeks after her training commenced.

During her testimony, Leck revealed that she and her colleagues repeatedly raised concerns about the legality and ethical implications of the process to the department's leadership. Unfortunately, their warnings went unheard, as no action was taken to address the issue.

'A few staff went to the union to advise what was going on, and then we found out there had been a client suicide due to the process,' she shared.

'I am still struggling with this.'

Credit: ABC News (Australia)​

Julie Holmes, a dedicated employee across the Department of Social Services (DSS), Department of Human Services (DHS), and Centrelink for over two decades, put it into stark perspective.

'I resigned from work at the age of 55, at least five years before I had intended to,' she revealed, attributing her early departure to the stress of implementing Robodebt, a system she deemed from the get-go as 'legally dubious at best and completely illegal at worst'.

Key Takeaways

• Centrelink staff and public servants have revealed they are still grappling with the impact of the 'Robodebt' system on their clients.
• Many staff members claim they knew the system was problematic and attempted to raise their concerns with superiors, only for those concerns to go unheard.
• Several individuals who took part in the Royal Commission into the system have come forward to share their submissions detailing the profound impact it had not only on themselves but also on their colleagues.
• Some former employees indicated they left Centrelink due to the stress and dissatisfaction associated with implementing the 'Robodebt' system.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis and requires immediate assistance, please dial triple zero (000) without delay. Another available option is to reach out to Lifeline at 13 11 14, as they offer their services round the clock, every day of the week.

While we are not medical professionals, we are always here to lend an ear. There are, however, several organisations that provide specialised support and education for people with mental illness and their families and carers throughout Australia.

Some of the main groups are listed here in this article.

Hopefully, the Commission's findings lead to reforms that make situations like Robodebt a thing of the past.

Here at the Seniors Discount Club, we empathise with all the individuals who have been victimised by the flaws in the Centrelink system—be they recipients or workers. It is our sincere wish that justice prevails for all those who have suffered the consequences of this unethical practice.

We are keen to hear your thoughts on this matter, so please take a moment to share your insights with us in the comments section below.

I was involved in this but was able to obtain weekly pay records to prove my innocence but it took months of stress and worry before I was cleared of cheating. Cheating is what I was accused of in the letter that I received. At least I didn't have to pay the ridiculous amount that I was accused of stealing.