[BIG THREAD] Announcing #Robodebt refunds late on a Friday after the PM has retreated from his press conference is cynical & lacks accountability. Hundreds of thousands of people have been affected. Some have died. The least the govt could do is show up https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/30/coalition-told-robodebt-no-longer-viable-and-should-be-abolished-leaked-advice-reveals

For YEARS #Robodebt has been unlawfully & inaccurately approximating "debts" based on cross referencing ATO data with Centrelink. As @lukehgomes reports, in Feb the govt was told the scheme was no longer viable. Last year they admitted in court that it was not accurate.

As early as Feb 2019 they had reduced or scrapped FORTY THOUSAND #robodebts that they had discovered were wrong. The problems with robodebt have been known for a long time. Despite this the govt persisted in issuing debt notices and recovering "debts" that people did not owe.

Imagine receiving a formal letter in the mail from the govt saying you owe them money and you have to pay it back by a certain date. If you don't, it might be sold off to a debt collector and attract interest. You dont think you owe the money but how are you meant to prove it?

You're already struggling on the govt's below-poverty-line Newstart & now you have to try and pay this back too. It's extremely stressful. You try to call Centrelink but you can't ever get through. When you do, they tell you to collect evidence to prove you DONT owe the debt.

Maybe you get issued more letters telling you to pay, but they have different debts on them. The first one said you owed $7500 but the next one says $11000. Which one is it?
You enter into an agreement to pay it off because you cant get a straight answer from Centrelink

You had signed up for Centrelink because you'd lost your job due to a bunch of factors, including developing depression after some distressing family events. Now this so-called 'safety net' is causing you even more stress. You regret ever seeking govt support.

Over 2000 people DIED after receiving #Robodebts

Imagine running a program & hearing +2000 people have died after your dept demanded they pay back money

Imagine then carrying on w Robodebt despite families telling you that it contributed to their suicide https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/2030-people-have-died-after-receiving-centrelink-robodebt-notice/10821272

Yday the govt finally announced an end to #robodebt & refund to the money that had been repaid. But refuses to apologise

It cannot even say "sorry" to the hundreds of thousands of people it wrongful, unlawfully and knowingly accused of owing money & caused enormous distress.

This is truly a national disaster. It's a botched, ruthless scheme that has driven people to the brink. It has caused real financial hardship. It has caused real suffering. Families say it contributed to them losing people they loved.

PM @ScottMorrisonMP should say sorry. /end