Centrelink debt notices are pushing some welfare recipients to the brink of suicide, an independent MP has warned.
Andrew Wilkie has asked the Commonwealth Ombudsman to investigate faults with Centrelink's new automated data matching system that has resulted in some welfare recipients being wrongly hounded to pay debts.
The ombudsman's office told AAP it was seeking further information from Centrelink but would not comment further.
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"I've had four people now approach me... who I would describe as presenting as suicidal," Mr Wilkie told reporters in Hobart.
"This is terrifying people, and we've got a government who is saying there is no problem."
He cited the case of one woman who received a debt notice of $69,000 - more money than she has ever received from Centrelink.