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BIZARRE: 4 - What They Never Told You

Robodebt inquiry is laying bare the horrific human cost of cheap and heartless politics

The Robodebt hearings have shown the former government hoodwinked voters to boost its popularity by humiliating people struggling to get by.

The New Daily

Christian Porter tells inquiry ‘someone’ in department assured him robodebt was legal but ‘I can’t recall who’

Former social services minister and attorney general also says he accepts some responsibility for the scandal

The Guardian - AU

Former social services minister Christian Porter takes responsibility for Robodebt failures at royal commission

Former minister Christian Porter has conceded talking points he was given at the height of Robodebt criticism were "inaccurate and untrue", and has taken some responsibility for the failed scheme.

ABC News

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Ex-minister says he wasn't given robodebt legal advice

Former social services minister Christian Porter has told the robodebt royal commission he never received legal advice that raised issues with the scheme.

AAP

Afternoon Update: fossil fuel companies gave $2m to major parties; Alec Baldwin charged; and ‘bogan airline’ takes off

Figures show fossil fuel firms donated $2m to the two big parties, while alcohol and gambling companies donated $2.165m

The Guardian - AU

Alan Tudge tells Robodebt royal commission he was not responsible for department's failures to ensure scheme was lawful

Former cabinet minister Alan Tudge has told a royal commission he was not responsible for his department's failure to ensure the Robodebt scheme was lawful.

ABC News

Alan Tudge denies he was responsible for department’s failure to check legality of robodebt, royal commission hears

Former human services minister says he was away on leave when an article casting doubt on legality of robodebt was sent to him

The Guardian - AU

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Alan Tudge’s adviser placed stories in ‘friendly media’ to ‘shut down’ robodebt scandal, royal commission told

Rachelle Miller tells inquiry the then human services minister was ‘very firm’ a media storm over the Centrelink debt recovery scheme needed to be shut down

The Guardian - AU

Robodebt victims' details released to media in bid to deter them from speaking out, royal commission told

Rachelle Miller told the commission that in response to growing criticism the government adopted a counter-narrative strategy in the "more friendly media" such as the tabloids.

ABC News

Minister asked for files on robodebt whistleblowers

A media adviser to former minister Alan Tudge has told a royal commission he requested the Centrelink files of those who spoke out in the media on robodebt.

AAP

Former government services minister Stuart Robert was warned Robodebt scheme could lead to civil action

Former government services minister Stuart Robert was warned continuing the illegal Robodebt scheme could lead to the civil action, the royal commission is told.

ABC News

Robodebt advice would cause damage: lawyer

A senior government lawyer has told a royal commission into robodebt that independent legal advice could have led to the scheme being stopped entirely.

AAP

Witness Robert Hurman admits his department made 'false' statements about Robodebt to ombudsman

A senior bureaucrat who approved a letter to the ombudsman investigating Robodebt has conceded his department made "false" statements about the unlawful scheme.

ABC News

Robodebt scheme 'set off alarm bells from the get-go', inquiry hears

The Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme hears the program had no "legally founded process" and a key critic held concerns from the "get-go".

ABC News

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The Guardian - AU

New alcohol restrictions for Alice Springs amid law and order crisis – as it happened

This blog is now closed

AAP

'Flawed assumptions' underpinned robodebt

A Human Services department official admits the legal framework behind the robodebt scheme contained "flawed assumptions".

The Guardian - AU

Afternoon Update: Coalition sowing doubt on Indigenous voice; pensioner’s $65,000 robodebt; and cathedral sex party rumours

Noel Pearson suggests opposition leader Peter Dutton is playing ‘a spoiling game’ as experts say detail on voice comes later

ABC News

Robodebt royal commission hears pensioner was forced to make repayments on almost $65,000 debt while still contesting it

Rosemary Gay wiped away tears while telling the royal commission into the Robodebt scheme of her "sheer terror" at receiving a debt notice for almost $65,000.

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The Guardian - AU

Age pensioner felt ‘sheer terror’ at receiving robodebt letter demanding $65,000, inquiry told

Woman says she feared she could lose her home when Centrelink letter ‘turned my life upside down’, before debt was reduced to $120 then refunded

ABC News

Robodebt victim breaks down at royal commission while recalling 'intrusion' of 'rude' human services staff

Sandra Bevan told the royal commission she was adamant the debt was incorrect, and "rude" phone calls made her life more difficult.

AAP

'Horror budget' paved way for robodebt

Successive Liberal government crackdowns on welfare fraud led many on social services to feel like criminals and paved the way for robodebt, an inquiry heard.

The Conversation

Grattan on Friday: Morrison endures the witness box, while Albanese enjoys being in the box seat with the Senate

Scott Morrison will forever be known as “the bulldozer”, and he lived up to his self-description at the Robodebt royal commission this week.

The Guardian - AU

Scott Morrison leaned on his faith in his department to explain the ‘critical failure’ of robodebt

Former PM’s verbose approach in stand meant it took an eternity to establish his position that he didn’t see vital legal advice on the scheme and can’t say why

AAP

'Trainwreck' Morrison robodebt evidence

Labor minister Bill Shorten has lashed Scott Morrison's robodebt royal commission, saying he's failed to take responsibility for his part in the scheme.

The Guardian - AU

Afternoon Update: Morrison grilled at robodebt inquiry; Azealia Banks lashes Australia; and snakes have clitorises

And new details on the brothers behind Queensland ambush

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