The Prime Minister has apologised to people who financially suffered because of the Government's failed robodebt scheme, saying he regrets any hardship that was caused by the program.
Key points:
- Scott Morrison has issued an apology for the 'hurt' caused by robodebt
- The scheme was ditched last month after it was found to be illegal
- Other Cabinet ministers have refused to apologise for the scheme because of ongoing litigation
The Government announced at the end of May it was scrapping the scheme and would pay back $721 million worth of debts raised.
"I would apologise for any hurt or harm in the way that the Government has dealt with that issue and to anyone else who has found themselves in those situations," Scott Morrison said.
"The business of raising and recovering debts on behalf of taxpayers is a difficult job.
"Of course I would deeply regret any hardship that has been caused to people in the conduct of that activity."
The scheme saw hundreds of thousands of people issued with computer-generated debt notices, some of which made demands for payment from people who did not owe the Government any money.
The apology came after Federal Attorney-General Christian Porter said he could not apologise because of ongoing litigation over the scheme.
"The system was flawed. I'm not going to use that word because … as Attorney-General I can't use the sort of language in the context of the litigation," he said on Insiders on Sunday.
Mr Morrison's apology was also more sombre than his response to the same question a day earlier of whether he would apologise for the scheme.
In a fiery response, he laid responsibility for the Government's use of income averaging to determine debts owed at the feet of the Labor party.
PM's apology 'crocodile tears', Opposition says
The Prime Minister delivered the apology in response to a question from Labor's spokesperson for families and social services Bill Shorten, who referred to a man with cancer who was "ripped to shreds" by debt collectors over his robodebt while receiving treatment in hospital.
Speaking after Question Time, Mr Shorten said the scheme caused "countless grief" and "trauma" for many people issued with debt notices.
"I listened to the Prime Minister today cry what I have to say were crocodile tears," he said.
"Saying 'well I'm sorry, 'course we only ever want to do what's lawful'.
"This Government has known for three years … that this was unlawful."
Minister for Government Services Stuart Robert also took to his feet to say any hardship cases should be referred to his office.
"It is incumbent on all of us if we have constituents who are hurting or suffering, bring them through to me, all colleagues know where I am," he said.
"Give me a buzz and we will seek quickly to help you out with that."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA2LTExL3BtLWFwb2xvZ2lzZXMtZm9yLWh1cnQtYW5kLWhhcm0tY2F1c2VkLXJvYm9kZWJ0LXNjaGVtZS8xMjM0NTE2NtIBJ2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMjM0NTE2Ng?oc=5
2020-06-11 06:46:46Z
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