As a single parent with two children working part time with another government dept. I had reported my earnings fortnightly, though due to payments errors over a three year period. I contacted centrelink post tax corrections in 2007 regarding errors. I was then issued a dept letter of over $13 000, though I knew over the three years the amount I received above entitled was less than $7500, which I had an independent accountant verify. Yet when demonstrating this, they insisted on the $13000+. I elected to go before the courts and a ruling was for just over $7500 based on all the evidence I submitted such as their own data which had enormous errors and compared to my actual payment slips. However centrelink dismissed the courts findings and engaged a recovery firm to withhold money from wages for the entire $13000+.
So I felt that regardless of evidence and court rulings, along with my receiving a statement from a centrelink employee stating they don't have to abide by the court rulings as there's is a civil finding, means they were not acting in public interest and within the standards of legal process.
To which I eventually just paid the entire $13000 as I felt bullied by the centrelink.
I felt bullied and defeated, given they ignored the findings of the court and were dismissive of my appeals to such. Centrelink and the whole system have failed to acknowledge their errors.