Department of Human Services legal team was under 'definite pressure' from superiors, Robodebt inquiry hears

abc.net.au/news/qld-robodebt-scheme-royal-commission-department-social-services/101881470There was "definite pressure" from senior Department of Social Services leadership on the legal team providing advice on the unlawful Robodebt scheme, a former in-house lawyer says.

"Everything I’ve seen suggests a certain passivity [within the legal team], is the kindest word I can use," Commissioner Holmes said."It was very siloed type of culture … you were responsible for what you were responsible for, you stayed within those bounds. There appeared to me to be a view of, with some of the lawyers, that … it wasn't our role to turn our mind to the broader risks [of Robodebt]. I found it quite problematic.

Ms Fredericks said there was "definite pressure" from senior leadership on what the legal team did and "what we commented on" at the time it was providing advice on the Coalition-era debt-recovery scheme.

definitely no superiors will be charged...

Did that one get under the radar because it’s difficult to find Robodebt info from you. You always lead with the Ukraine, big yawn, you have crap about Djokovics’ father but dont cover Robodebt which is both infuriating and offensive. Our ABC, maybe if you are Ukrainian, wtf🤬

The lot of those bastard liberals involved trying to milk the poor should now all face jail 10 yrs minimum and all assetts ceased and repaid to the tax payer. What a pack of drop kicks

About !!!!!! time you started reporting on this: stop the ita interference

seen it before....

philYoung17 Appreciate ABC finally covering this story

Robodebt. The bastard child of Shorten and Plibersek.

marquelawyers is the Royal Commissioner able to recommend that charges be laid, or is the “unlawful” behavior shrouded in mechanisms (legalese) to prevent justice being served?

Labor on their hypocritical high horse again....

RobodebtRC Main question is who of the culprits is going to jail for coercion and extortion? The responsible minister and top bureaucrats should be great candidates. Will never happen in Australia, but should.

How is it that Kathryn Campbell is still a very senior government employee? I would suggest her position is untenable. Granted, there are others, mainly politicians, who should be blamed as well. I mean, people died because of Robodebt. Many more still suffer.

The fact that there isn't a RC into the Covid response and the vaxxes after nearly 3 years proves just why we need one...💀💉💉💉💉💉

Can we cut to the chase? 1. Robodebt was unlawful. 2. Everyone knew it was unlawful. 3. The government pushed it up until the courts were going to stop them. 4. That was their plan all along. 5. We need a faster way to hold governments to account when they act illegally.

Can we have just a lot more about RoboDebt and less of Peter Dutton!?

When will there be an inquiry into the Child Support Agency?

is this an expensive way of blaming the other guy

That leadership....Kathryn Campbell, who with a team of income test experts and a whole legal branch at her disposal couldn't find out it was illegal. Now Labor gives her a 900k+ job...how dirty does it have to get before action is taken.

I reckon this is going to be the tip of the iceberg as far as corruption in the APS forced by equally corrupt politicians goes. Complete failure of the APS Code of Conduct.

Started reporting Robodebt Royal Commission now ABCaustralia? Public pressure perhaps? It is the public who pay all of the salaries there after all. We're called shareholders (taxpayers) in case you weren't aware.

So glad to see the ABC finally found time to report on this.

Thousands of deaths associated with you being quiet. Own it.

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