Senate report in to Centrelink's automated debt recovery system due
A senate inquiry in to Centrelink's controversial robo-debt recovery scheme will reveal its findings later today.
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A senate inquiry in to Centrelink's controversial robo-debt recovery scheme will reveal its findings later today.
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With complaints of engaged signals and long wait times, the human services minister, Alan Tudge, told Raf Epstein if people are not getting through to Centrelink on the phone they could try going to their local office because "typically you wait about 10 minutes".
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It's been making headlines since summer, when thousands of Australians suddenly found out they owed money to Centrelink.
Critics call it "robodebt", but how does the controversial system actually work?
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CHRIS SMITH: I want to return right now to the growing issue of welfare rorting in Australia. Some of the figures on this subject are rather staggering, but the Federal Government is now vowing to extend its program to recover $4 billion in welfare debts from almost 2 million Australians who may have incorrectly received benefit payments. Now, remember this is taxpayers' money.
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An increase in debt notices from Centrelink to welfare recipients has been causing waves. The increase has been brought about by data-matching technology, which sees Centrelink data checked against details held by the Australian Taxation Office.
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The ACT Council of Social Service has written to Canberra Liberal Senator Zed Seselja seeking his support to suspend the program while issues are resolved.
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ACTCOSS director Susan Helyar spoke with ABC Radio Canberra breakfast host Dan Bourchier about the debt recovery system and what changes they would like to see.
Meg Webb, Manager of Anglicare's Social Action & Research Centre shares with Brian Carlton how the clawback has affected those using Anglicare's services. "If we're hearing [stories] through the people involved in our services, there's going to be many, many more out there in the broader community, who are also impacted by this debacle and may not have places to turn for help and support," Ms. Webb says.
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Many people living with disabilities rely on social security payments from Centrelink. A large number of these people have been hit with debts as part of the ongoing Centrelink debt debacle. We spoke with Dean Price from People With Disability Australia about the impact this has had.
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We've been inundated with texts and calls about the Centrelink debt recovery system, and the overwhelming message is that getting answers from Centrelink can be difficult.
But if you're having problems, what can you do?
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Earlier, this week the Social Services Minister Christian Porter told me that Centrelink's automated compliance system was 'working incredibly well'.
But the stories of the distress caused by what many see as debt recovery notices keep coming in.
South Australia Senator Nick Xenophon says he's been inundated with complaints about Centrelink debt letters and referred the matter to the ombudsman late last month.
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