for around 470,000 welfare debts thrown up by the scheme because of faulty income assessments made by the Australian Taxation Office."There was suicides as a result of people who received these debt notices for debts that they didn't owe, that were illegal, and that the government now concedes were illegal," Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese told reporters in Sydney on Saturday.
Liberal backbencher Fiona Martin also defended the actions of Government Services Minister Stuart Robert, saying he was first aware of the problem in November 2019 and immediately paused the scheme."The issue has now been addressed. So he has acknowledged that the ATO data was not sufficient and he is making steps to rectify it," she told ABC television.
But Mr Pitt disagreed with the accusation that the government is"taking out the trash" on a Friday afternoon. "This is the consequences of a long-term approach by government to demonise people, when you are treating people as a number and not thinking their deserving, this is what happens," she said.
+61 7 4152 0744 tellKeith Keith Pitt
MikeCarlton01 Pitt is a liar who milks $273 A NIGHT to stay in his own house.
YOU ARE A JOKE
A lot of people who do illegal things are unrepentant.
Well they start by getting rid of some of the members of this workforce responsible for this unlawful rot!
LeighMiranda4 They are repaying the error onto indue cards. How hateful. People paid back so called debts in cash but govt putting it onto a indue card.
Sham on them
Backing of a failed scheme says it all!
The LNP won't apologise over the horrendous and sorrowful Robodebt debacle, but were gleefully enthusiastic in persuing and persecuting Labor over 4 deaths because shonky operators capitalised on the Pink Batts scheme. (In no way disrespecting those poor folk who died.)
Just more from an Out of Touch Government. Matters not the topic, Robodebt, drought, fire, rorts, they apologise for nothing!
According to this dill his constituents are concerned about people claiming more social security than they deserve - but not this massive rorting - that he and his govt are ignoring. robodebt
This has to surely change people's view of this Government.I got off lightly,I survived and proved that they were wrong, others payed the ultimate price.....sadly..with their lives.
Another male LNP minister with young female receptionist. Name one LNP minister that fronts his own office not young female or fragile older female staff. Getting women to field their dirt is their version of equality in the work place 🤬🤬
Knowingly, and illegally stole money from vulnerable Australians! Forced over 2000 individuals to take their own lives! Invaded people's bank accounts and stole what little savings they had! Withheld tax refunds! Ruined credit ratings! Yeah, nothing to apologise for 🤦
BrianBrownUCA Who voted for these ... ?
Tell him directly
The scheme failed. They are refunding the money they illegally took from those least able to afford it. People committed suicide over the stress of it all. And there is no need for an apology! FFS
He can't sorry, it's not in his narcissistic nature to have empathy and also they will bring in another robodebt under a different name. Shitheads like him will bring down the LNP, the LNP think they can get away with Trump style governing here in OZ.
SACK him as well
MikeCarlton01 Disgusting and imagine the legal cases if he/they did?
MikeCarlton01 keith pitt is a dill.when people complained to hime about the nbn his standard reply was see your provider.
MikeCarlton01 The LNP never seems to worry about the big end of town not paying tax, buying influence with donations etc.
Pitt is a 50 failed sugar farmer with no formal life skills , experience or education A simpleton LiberalAus lnp party hack He and stuartrobertmp seem satisfied they and their party have facilitated the deaths of over 2000 Australians
Clearly Keith Pitt is satisfied with the deaths of over 2000 Australians thanks to the policy of his LiberalAus party robodebt auspol
They never do think they should apologise over any thing that they fuck up and this one cost lifes
And where will the refunds go to people who took their lives in despair over RobodebtFail go?
leigh_morpeth The LNP coalition government has terrorised its own citizens. Vulnerable, marginalised people have been constantly badgered and bullied for four long years, leading many to suicide. The govt is culpable in the ongoing trauma and in the avoidable deaths associated with robotheft
And what about 2000 deaths it caused.
blairpalese 2000 lives taken by stuartrobertmp is not nothing!
2000 suicides blood on LNP hands ScottyFromMarketing
To say nothing of 2000 lost loves. How does this man sleep at night?
Um...so why are they refunding the money then? 🤔 These fkers are pure evil 🤬
PLUS interest ?
MikeCarlton01 Who is this guy?
$700 million odd mistaken debts raised against the most financially disadvantaged Australians and this pack of corrupt, cheating, lying stacks of arrogance think the people approve of their behaviour. Why? We haven’t risen in a body and marched silently through the streets. Yet.
They again prove incompetence, lack of humanity and I suspect A RORT on who got let off the debt because if it was across political spectrum why weren’t LNP MPs seeking answers. Another rort with rt wing bias. Labor most investigate when in office next. RC
ScottRhodie No it wasn't faulty assessments by the tax office...
Will all those that took their own lives due to wrongful debts be getting reimbursed too?
bkbaguley Go say that to the families of the suiciders, Keith Pitt. Dare ya. Just one of them would/should make you squirm.
Has been deemed an Illegal program. The behaviour is, by definition, criminal. Nothing to apologise for? I hope the judges remember that claim when sentencing.
So, apparently Rudd is to blame for a few pink batts deaths by rouge operators, yet the Libs aren't to blame for 100s of suicides due to their flawed program?
Huh, well as long as it's OK by Kieth Pitt. As minister for resources & water he's allowed massive fraud & mismanagement to siphon off billions of Tax dollars & failed to properly declare asset on the special interests register, that's no reason not to take his word for it now!
No accountability! Cop on!!! You have a lot to apologize for
This is correct if you are a psychopath
No decency at all and just plain stupidity...this is the kind of behaviour that tears a community and incite violent response from families and friends of those victims. Wasn't this government supposed to be good at marketing at least?
Unbloodybelievable
What is 720 millions dollars back when u save 60 billions to pay less to 1 % ?
Needs a week in the stocks in the village square. Hand me that stink cabbage...
5151mpk These scumbags think they do whatever they like with no consequences. The sad thing is they’re probably right LNPCrimeFamily LNPCorruption LNPCruelty
Of course. But if the media hounds him like they would Labor over a far more innocuous issue......
Minister is a grub 🐛
Heartless ratbaggery
The Federal Government just doesn’t get it !!! There seems to be No Empathy, Understanding or Care for the Relentless Trauma n Desperation to the point of Suicide, faced by many, by the Robodebt Scheme.
Nothing to apologise for How about the 2300 suicides robodebt caused?
Shame! Shame!!
You will never get admission of guilt from any government department - particularly this one. Never. It’s just how they roll.
MikeCarlton01 Bullshit! 'The biggest issue that gets raised with me and my office on a regular basis is from Australians who are concerned about taxpayer support that perhaps has been provided inappropriately or for people who are making a claim that is not quite correct,'
Typical low life LNP minister ScottMorrisonMP
MikeCarlton01 FFS, nothing to apologise for Here’s some suggestions: -Ripping off our poorest & most vulnerable over $720 million -Responsibility for over 2000 suicides. -Creation of an illegal and immoral government debt collection scheme. Happy with that, Keith?
I think everyone in Australia is well aware of this government's attitude when it comes to saying sorry. Even if they did say the words, what comfort could it bring those who have suffered terribly? For some, this was the death of a loved one. Any apology would be hollow. 😥😥😥
What a vile bunch this LNP federal government are. They knew Robodebt was illegal and causing great anguish to the most vulnerable people in Australia. People took their own lives and Morrison, Roberts, Tudge couldn't care less. Abhorrent!
Their apology should also now include an apology for stating there was nothing for which they needed to apologise. Obviously they'd prefer to instead apologise to each other for the trouncing they've received after the next election.
Could you tell Mr Pitt. I would like to know how he would react if he got a debt for half his annual wage. No Discussions Allowed. My daughter did and took over 9mths to get it sorted out. The drama still played on for another 6 mths. So so stressfull many wasted hours
The Minister for Coal pits is the Pitt(s)
Bullshit
A couple of thousand deaths not enough for an apology from lnp
I beg to disagree - you abuse the people you apologise to the people. Oh wait it's Australia and we don't do apologies
The utter hide of these criminal scumbags! This should bring down the government & those responsible should face charges. robodebt robotheft
2000 suicides, but nothing to see here.
This proves that this LNP government believe they are above the law and integrity requirements of being parliamentarians. Morrison was an architect of this scheme Roberts administers it They should be held accountable In the least Roberts if honorable would resign as required
Will they get the interest as well?
Hold on a moment! Isn’t Keith Pitt scum?
blairpalese See that abcnews - not debts. Not that hard to get it right. 🤷♂️
MikeCarlton01 The biggest issue is a few welfare cheats? Give the man a shovel to help him digging himself deeper. How pathetic is that?
Denial, denial, denial... Lnp style.
Absolutely appalling, he should be ashamed of himself.
What an embarrassment for the thoughtful & caring people of Hinkler. The cold, dry, heartless core of the COALition is on display. Social justice & a social conscience are alien concepts for these callous knobs.
He has no dignity and must resign
Says the guy who coincidentally got a top gig after forcing his electorate into the Indue card racket.
Yet because of our shameless and corrupt media , who kiss the feet of these grubs they will get re-elected, the blame can no longer be held at the feet of the government, the 4th estate is dead and with it democracy, until media hold the auspol to blame then tey are responsible
Another bastard
This guy's hubris beggars belief
davidbewart It was illegal. You know - against the law.
Rubbish - the minister owes all those thousands of people a very humbling apology. He knew the system was flawed and yet he had to be dragged into the courts before acting. Shameful behaviour from a shameful coalition.
MikeCarlton01 Yes very predictable response from that absolute incompetent muppet. Who preselects these clowns 🤡 least vote them in. Just beggars belief!
$720 million extorted from our most vulnerable people. Now we are giving it back. $720 million will be eclipsed by the admin costs of robertdebt and it's reversal, plus the costs of supporting victims through the hardship, mental stress and death. Our government is disgusting.
MikeCarlton01 yep, this is the same guy who pushed and pushed for the cashless welfare card in his region.
You stole from the poor, people are dead because of this incompetent, putrid and corrupt government. You knew it was illegal, you could have stopped it and didn't until the class action. Your a mut and need to apologise now.
MikeCarlton01 keith Pitt haha, yeah we have much respect for keith, ..... MUCH, meaning n---u-----n, yep, none.
Wait a pitiful bunch they are.
Gawd
good story from your people . well done
Poids de la clientèle, des actionnaires et des politiques ?
MikeCarlton01 Right so the Minister for Resources and Water is telling us that the majority of queries to his office is from people concerned about other people getting overpaid on a benefits scheme, I surely can't be the only one who thinks this is a steaming pile of 🐂💩
Why is the resources minister defending it? Hardly his area of expertise.
People committed suicide due to this an apology needs to be made.
jchimselfbigpo2 LNP will blame someone else as always.
MikeCarlton01 So hes got no respect for the judicial process more or less
More Ministerial Tosser BS.
Just another LNP POS. I've lost count...
So, no need to apologise for knowingly imposing an illegal scheme on vulnerable people, driving some of them to suicide. Not to mention the utter incompetence in governance, financial responsibility & duty of care. Every day, this govt sets new lows in arrogance & accountability.
MikeCarlton01 There's your, our, problem.
MikeCarlton01 Let's be very clear here. I don't think stuartrobertmp should be the tethered goat for this craven, systematic bullying. This has got the stench of ScottMorrisonMP MathiasCormann cporterwa & AlanTudgeMP all over it. robodebt auspol
MikeCarlton01 By the standards of recent LNP governments in general, and the Morrison government in particular, he has nothing to apologise for. By ANY credible standard of fairness or justice, or even competency, he should resign NOW! auspol
MikeCarlton01 He's also a fan of the Indue card in his electorate. Nasty piece of work.
MikeCarlton01 Dear keithjpitt If you want to know why people expect some contrition from this government... Over 2,000 deaths Over 2,000 deaths Over 2,000 deaths Over 2,000 deaths Over 2,000 deaths Over 2,000 deaths Over 2,000 deaths Over 2,000 deaths Over 2,000 deaths Over 2,000 deaths
MikeCarlton01 Blood. On. Their. Hands.
MikeCarlton01 He has a little bit to apologise for
MikeCarlton01 really?the most common complaint he gets is about people being on welfare?i call BS on that💩
Over 2 thousand suicides linked to robodebt, but “nothing to apologise for”. Sick pieces of 💩 LNPCrimeFamily auspol
There’s plenty to apologise for. Like the many Adelaide constituents who came to see me so distressed by the demand letters they received that treated them like criminals robodebt caused so much anxiety to so many elderly pensioners. apologisenow RobodebtFail
MikeCarlton01 He should apologise for being an insensitive wit, is this the type of people we should have leading us. This is a national disgrace and should result in a royal commission
MikeCarlton01
PEOPLE KILLED THEMSELVES
These guys have absolutely no moral compass.
Stupidity is not something that will go away because of an apology. It is in the DNA.
The damages bill keep rising for Robodebt victims as another Govt Minister defends the unlawful exercise of power to pursue false debts. auspol
The damages bill just keeps rising for Robodebt victims as another Govt defends the unlawful pursuit of moneys not owed. auspol
No doubt legal advice because of likely damages claims from suicide victims families.
Smack this bastard in the mouth
The apology from the government will most likely form one of the damages sought by the class action. if it didn’t before now, it most likely will going forward...
People literally killed them selves over getting robo debts, people suffered mental health crisis, people lived in extreme poverty over fears of signing back up and copping a fine they never owed. This government is criminal and should be held accountable for their actions
Sack him today.
deniseshrivell At this point it would be weird if they weren’t defending this after all their monstrous fuck ups
Why would he, they are never accountable to their actions and are blatantly without integrity and they seem not to mind that they are infact corrupted.
Typical response from an inhumane dodgy LNP Minister. OutWithMorrison and Co.
The disdain and the contempt in the way that this government has treated it’s people is nothing short of cruel and belligerent. They believe that they are above having to apologise for the heartless way they have hounded many people to their grave.
Rubbish. If Labor did it the RW frothers would be apoplectic. It’s a total disgrace and those involved need to resign or be sacked.
Criminal negligence?
Do you really expect the court jester to admit he's the fool.
He is so disgusting and never ever thinking about the people who have died because of the Government and their stupidity
Australian’s have developed a longer memory in recent months. We’ll wait till the next election and then we’ll see if you’re sorry
Govt doing well with the purse again eh
deniseshrivell You need to hang your head in shame keithjpitt. Over 2,000 at risk & vulnerable ppl committed suicided over this Govt initiative. It was unlawful & therefore illegal & there needs to be accountability at Ministerial level. Your seat needs to be heavily targeted next election.
Apologise? Targeting the vulnerable and working poor is sport as far as the Coalition is concerned.
Voter's need RoboElectionPromiseKeeper so our politicians get letters for poor performance and not keeping election commitments.
Not apologising is just the new politics 101. Lets ignore it. Since when do we think politicians are the guardians of our morals and ethics? If they won't apologise I won't vote for them.
We had a Royal Commission into the Home Insulation Program. Sounds like this needs one
Apologizing was never their strong suit!
Better part of a billion dollars. Someone if not the whole government should be falling
Gross incompetence by the Minister and PM need to result in their resignations
The government is 100% to blame and are all disgusting evil people
deniseshrivell OFC he would say that... Human lives mean nothing to this Coalition Government! Refugees used as a deterrent, Family with kids from BILOELA locked up in detention, suicides caused by ROBODEBT... but there is nothing to apologise for.... Scum!
The Liberal Code is to always tighten the screws on the poor, old, disabled and vulnerable. They get delight in inflicting pain and anguish.
2000 suicides - that's something to apologise for.
deniseshrivell All those suicides..and these scumbags in govt have zero empathy..a pox on their houses
Of course he's playing on ScottyFromMarketing's team the boys all stick together AngusTaylorgate BarnabyGate RoboDebt RubyDutton BushfireGate SportsRorts ClimateWars PaladinGate mediScare 60Bn watergate2019 auspol
And there you have it Australia. This govt doesn’t give a shit! 2000 deaths! $720m plus! Worst govt ever!!
I believe Mr Pitt said that social security payments were the government’s biggest item of expenditure. I don’t believe him. Fact check please. InsidersABC cporterwa LaTrioli David_Speers PhillipCoorey TheKouk ABCmediawatch ABCFactCheck auspol robodebt
When do Liberals ooops Conservatives say sorry, they are they most arrogant assholes on the planet!
Never apologise for people killing themselves as a direct result. Cowards the lot of you.
Keith Pitt doesn't think government should apologise for: a. trying to steal money from its citizens; b. Pushing its citizens to suicide while trying to steal from them; c. Wasting hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars trying to illegally steal money from its citizens. OK.
People died, keith
GTFOH - when ignorance is bliss
apologize for the people this debt threw into poverty and literal death. sick & disabled people died because of this debt they were fraudulently given. those families deserve the largest apology, just for starters. then reparations.
What because their silly looking Slomo got the robodebt ball rolling ?.....the 'I don't care' Slomo ? 😏
The Liberal Party never ever ever apologise. For anything. Ever. That is my Ted Talk.
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