Treasury forecasts $184.5b deficit in 2020-21 Economy & Industry Josh Frydenberg said Australia has experienced a 'health and economic crisis like nothing we have seen in the last 100 years', and it would take…
Taxation watchdog to review ATO comms regarding taxpayers’ rights Wednesday July 1, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Federal The taxation watchdog has launched an investigation into whether the Australian Taxation Office effectively informs taxpayers of their rights. Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman…
Senate: show us the robodebt legal advice Thursday November 28, 2019 By Stephen Easton Federal The Community and Public Sector Union says the government has been ignoring the concerns of Centrelink staff about the robodebt system for years, while the…
Robodebt defeated: Commonwealth caves in and accepts debt and 10% penalty both invalid Wednesday November 27, 2019 By Stephen Easton Federal The Commonwealth government has conceded one Centrelink’s robodebt was invalid due to the use of income averaging in the absence of concrete evidence — the…
NT departments way over budget, but not as much as expected Monday October 21, 2019 By Shannon Jenkins Economy & Industry The Northern Territory’s Health Department has blown its budget for the eighth time in the past nine years. It’s one of 17 departments to go…
Opposition-backed robodebt lawsuit must ‘break new ground’ in High Court to succeed Thursday September 19, 2019 By Stephen Easton Federal Some said it couldn’t be done but after a chat with Bill Shorten, Gordon Legal has announced a class action lawsuit against the federal government…
Revenge of the robodebt contractors: Centrelink fends off further claims with risky media strategy Friday August 30, 2019 By Stephen Easton Communications & Technology Centrelink continues to duck, weave, and occasionally throw a defensive jab as former contractors speak out about their experiences of working on the robodebt system,…
ATO too aggressive on small business debt, says Kate Carnell Monday April 29, 2019 By David Donaldson Federal The Australian Taxation Office is destroying some small businesses with its approach to debt repayments, argues Small Business Ombudsman Kate Carnell.
Commonwealth Ombudsman 'pleased' by robodebt changes, legal challenges remain Thursday April 4, 2019 By Stephen Easton Federal Centrelink has agreed to keep working on the robodebt system to make it fairer and more transparent in line with new recommendations from the Commonwealth…
Fines of the time: is NSW about to revisit the effectiveness of penalties? Wednesday August 16, 2017 By Julian Bajkowski Community & Social Nobody likes copping a ticket, but there are signs the use of infringements to modify behaviour is ready for a holistic reset beyond just dollar…
Australia’s generational wealth divide is biting Wednesday August 2, 2017 By Andrew Trounson Community & Social Home ownership rates are falling and debt is rising among Australia's younger generations, new HILDA survey data shows. There are questions about the sustainability of…
Centrelink's debt recovery system: automation without good public administration Monday April 10, 2017 By Stephen Easton News The Commonwealth Ombudsman reports Centrelink's automated debt recovery drive is an example of digital transformation that failed to maintain good public administration, procedural fairness under…
When it comes to trust, a good offence is your worst defence Monday March 6, 2017 By Matthew Beard Features Centrelink bosses think they stayed within the law but they "rode roughshod" over conventional attitudes to privacy, writes ethicist Matthew Beard. Governments should pick their…
Losing oxygen to leakers and the media, Centrelink's comms fall back to 'the facts' Wednesday January 25, 2017 By Stephen Easton Communications & Technology The Department of Human Services rejects speculation that 90% of Centrelink's automated assessments of past welfare entitlements are wrong, as more staff speak out against…
Whistleblower or misguided luddite? Centrelink rejects serious allegations Thursday January 19, 2017 By Stephen Easton News Centrelink has rejected extremely serious and detailed allegations reportedly made by a staff member, claiming they misunderstand the welfare system.
