Watching objectors to the #robodebt settlement today appearing the federal court today. Get the sense this is the only public forum people feel they've had to tell their stories so far.

Justice Bernard Murphy says there have been more than 500 objections. Hearing from one man who says he contemplated suicide after getting a 18,000 debt (later reduced to $5,000), Murphy tells him he's not alone and notes many objectors "have harrowing tales to tell".

Jennifer Miller, whose son Rhys took his own life after getting a Centrelink debt, says her "objection is that no one has been held accountable". That includes Scott Morrison, who she says "started this back when he was treasurer".

Miller tells the court Services Australia has never told her if Rhys' debt was a "robodebt". Murphy says it's unacceptable this hasn't happened. Says it's a matter of "common humanity".

Objector: "It doesn’t seem like the settlement amount is enough." Says he received a $17,000 debt.

A lot of people pointing out they are being asked to agree to a settlement without knowing what they are entitled, if anything. Murphy also notes this makes it difficult.

We're getting to the crux of the problem some people have with the settlement. Which is that the "compensation" is actually only interest repaid, not compensation for distress/inconvenience etc.

A woman says she was hounded Dun & Bradstreet over a debt (since refunded) and garnisheed her tax returns at the same her partner has taken his own life. "The emotional toll is absolutely ridiculous…”

The woman says her dad also later took his own life and she kept being hounded by debt collectors over the debt. "My dad had just committed suicide and my phone rang ever single day... 'My car will be taken, this will happen.'"

It is worth noting Murphy has said many times he believes the case for people hit with debts who provided information and subsequently got a recalculated and substantiated debt is "much weaker".

Kath Madgwick, whose son Jarrad took his own life after getting a Centrelink debt, says she's not a member of the class, but says there has been "no accountability". Says the robodebt system has never been properly investigated.

Madgwick says: “Justice hasn’t been served. The government walks away.” "These letters shouldn't be going out unless the debt is 100% accurate."

Murphy: “There is nothing I can say to reduce the pain you’re in.”

An insight into the pettiness at play in some cases here: one man has just told the court he had $16 garnisheed from his tax return.

Objector Jeremy Lee says: "Scott Morrison, Alan Tudge, and Stuart Robert attacked poor people. He says the robodebt program reversed the presumption of innocence
“to terrorise targets”.

Lee (or it could be Leigh): If settlement is approved, the government would have used "state power to persecute the weakest members of society".