People punished for government mistakes

There’s a stink of injustice emanating from the federal government’s latest attempt to stick its hands in the pockets of Australian citizens.

The Department of Human Services issued an unwelcome Christmas greeting to thousands of people late last year, as it sent debt notices across the nation in an effort to claim back overpayments from welfare agency Centrelink – many dating back several years.

A new computer system that cross references income details of Centrelink clients with Australian Taxation Department records made this possible.

The trouble (for the government) is, thousands of people have come forward to say they have been incorrectly targeted.