Robodebt: When ‘mateship’ and a ‘fair go’ went on holiday

Abstract

<p>Almost half a million Australians were victims of Robodebt under the previous Government. This is when 'mateship' and 'a fair go' went on a holiday for a few years. At the same time, others, like myself, were victims of Centrelink's impersonal, incorrect and sometimes unfair automated debt recovery systems.</p><p>As victims, we have been disturbed and triggered by the contents of the damning report from the Royal Commission.</p><p>The Government led the public to believe that the disadvantaged and marginalised not only had their hand in the honey pot, but they were being greedy.</p> <p>Who were these people who were apparently cheating? Mostly, it was those on insecure and fluctuating incomes. This included many women, single mums and students.</p>