Ex Ombudsman staffer tells the inquiry that had their investigators been shown documents flagging Robodebt's illegality, they would have called for the scheme to end.
abc.net.au/news/robodebt-scheme-government-royal-commission-fraud/102069220The department responsible for Robodebt failed to disclose documents to Commonwealth investigators which would have prompted them to stop the program, an ex-senior staffer at the Ombudsman's office has revealed.Louise Macleod was involved in an investigation by the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman into Robodebt
The investigation began after an increase in complaints from welfare recipients raised a "red flag" with the Ombudsman. The draft documents included legal advice which had flagged the scheme was potentially illegal years before the 2017 Commonwealth investigation, but Ms MacLeod said she had never seen the documents before.
Ms MacLeod was told another document drafted by DSS's public law branch confirmed the "suggested calculation method does not accord with social security legislation" and specified income must be assessed fortnightly.
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