Senior public servant Kathryn Campbell resigns amid Robodebt fallout: ‘She failed to act’
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It's been a tumultuous few months, to say the least, for those embroiled in the Robodebt scandal.
The incident, which saw thousands of Australians targeted by the 'unlawful' income averaging scheme, has sparked one of the most heated conversations about inequality and justice in our nation's recent history.
In the wake of the Royal Commission into the issue, one high-ranking official has stepped down from her role at the centre of the scandal: Kathryn Campbell, who headed up the Department of Human Services at the time of the scheme's introduction.
Her resignation from her job was confirmed this week, just three days after the commission's findings into the Robodebt scandal were presented in a three-volume document totalling 900 pages.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Royal Commission findings were 'very clear about failings' and confirmed Ms Campbell had been suspended without pay and left her job as an adviser on AUKUS.
During her time as the Head of Human Services, Ms Campbell was responsible for implementing a scheme that forced struggling Australians to repay money they didn't actually owe. This had severe consequences, causing financial hardship for many individuals.
The commission's investigation was critical of Ms Campbell's role in the scandal, as it revealed her involvement in the problematic implementation of the scheme.
'Ms Campbell had been responsible for a department that had established, implemented and maintained an unlawful program,' the Royal Commission report said.
'When exposed to information that brought to light the illegality of income averaging, she did nothing of substance. When presented with opportunities to obtain advice on the lawfulness of that practice, she failed to act.'
The federal Labor government then discreetly transferred Ms Campbell from her position as the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the AUKUS role. In this new role, she received an annual salary of approximately $900,000.
When grilled on the appointment during a Senate Estimates inquiry, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the evidence presented throughout the Royal Commission proceedings went 'beyond what [she] anticipated'.
Credit: ABC News (Australia).
On the other hand, Ms Campbell, despite facing damning evidence against her, denied intentionally misleading the government during the same inquiry.
'I have never been in a department that sought to mislead. And I have never been involved in an operation that has sought to mislead the government,' she said.
In a statement posted to its website, the Department of Defence said: 'Defence can confirm it has accepted Ms Kathryn Campbell's resignation from the Department with effect from Friday 21 July 2023.'
'Defence will not provide further comment on this matter.'
However, when asked about it, Minister for Defence Personnel, Matt Keogh, stated that he couldn't confirm it at that moment. He also emphasised that the public's attention regarding the illegal scheme should be directed towards the former government, putting the responsibility on them.
'When we look at the entire Robodebt scandal and the royal commission and the findings that it handed down, the critical focus here needs to be the failure at the level of government, the ministers that were responsible, their failures to keep their own cabinet colleagues apprised of exactly how this program was operating,' he said.
'That was a failure by the ministers, it was a failure by the last government, and that is where the focus of the report and people's focus on how that all unfolded needs to be.'
Although we understand that resolving the Robodebt scandal won't happen overnight, we are eagerly awaiting the outcomes that the task force will bring to light. Our hope is that justice will be served, and those who have suffered unjust consequences will receive the help they deserve.
Members, we would love to hear your thoughts on this news story. Please share your opinions with us in the comments section below.
The incident, which saw thousands of Australians targeted by the 'unlawful' income averaging scheme, has sparked one of the most heated conversations about inequality and justice in our nation's recent history.
In the wake of the Royal Commission into the issue, one high-ranking official has stepped down from her role at the centre of the scandal: Kathryn Campbell, who headed up the Department of Human Services at the time of the scheme's introduction.
Her resignation from her job was confirmed this week, just three days after the commission's findings into the Robodebt scandal were presented in a three-volume document totalling 900 pages.
Ms Campbell's resignation comes after a royal commission into the illegal Robodebt scheme her department oversaw. Credit: Shutterstock.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Royal Commission findings were 'very clear about failings' and confirmed Ms Campbell had been suspended without pay and left her job as an adviser on AUKUS.
During her time as the Head of Human Services, Ms Campbell was responsible for implementing a scheme that forced struggling Australians to repay money they didn't actually owe. This had severe consequences, causing financial hardship for many individuals.
The commission's investigation was critical of Ms Campbell's role in the scandal, as it revealed her involvement in the problematic implementation of the scheme.
'Ms Campbell had been responsible for a department that had established, implemented and maintained an unlawful program,' the Royal Commission report said.
'When exposed to information that brought to light the illegality of income averaging, she did nothing of substance. When presented with opportunities to obtain advice on the lawfulness of that practice, she failed to act.'
The federal Labor government then discreetly transferred Ms Campbell from her position as the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the AUKUS role. In this new role, she received an annual salary of approximately $900,000.
When grilled on the appointment during a Senate Estimates inquiry, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the evidence presented throughout the Royal Commission proceedings went 'beyond what [she] anticipated'.
Credit: ABC News (Australia).
On the other hand, Ms Campbell, despite facing damning evidence against her, denied intentionally misleading the government during the same inquiry.
'I have never been in a department that sought to mislead. And I have never been involved in an operation that has sought to mislead the government,' she said.
In a statement posted to its website, the Department of Defence said: 'Defence can confirm it has accepted Ms Kathryn Campbell's resignation from the Department with effect from Friday 21 July 2023.'
'Defence will not provide further comment on this matter.'
However, when asked about it, Minister for Defence Personnel, Matt Keogh, stated that he couldn't confirm it at that moment. He also emphasised that the public's attention regarding the illegal scheme should be directed towards the former government, putting the responsibility on them.
'When we look at the entire Robodebt scandal and the royal commission and the findings that it handed down, the critical focus here needs to be the failure at the level of government, the ministers that were responsible, their failures to keep their own cabinet colleagues apprised of exactly how this program was operating,' he said.
'That was a failure by the ministers, it was a failure by the last government, and that is where the focus of the report and people's focus on how that all unfolded needs to be.'
Although we understand that resolving the Robodebt scandal won't happen overnight, we are eagerly awaiting the outcomes that the task force will bring to light. Our hope is that justice will be served, and those who have suffered unjust consequences will receive the help they deserve.
Members, we would love to hear your thoughts on this news story. Please share your opinions with us in the comments section below.
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and should be charged and jailed for this mind-boggling decision making and Sco-Mo and Co as well these parasites caused people to suicide and should be jailed 
