‘Unlawful’: Sunrise host Natalie Barr fires up ahead of bombshell Robodebt report

Sunrise host Natalie Barr has slammed the Robodebt scheme as responsible for creating “500,000 victims” in a fiery interview ahead of a landmark report.

Sunrise host Natalie Barr has slammed the Robodebt scheme as “unlawful” and responsible for creating “500,000 victims” in a fiery interview ahead of a landmark report.

As she grilled Coalition frontbencher Bridget McKenzie, Barr hit back at any suggestion that things had not gone disastrously wrong.

“This was mathematically flawed. It was ruled unlawful. There were half a million victims. People took their own lives over this. Bridget, you must have some kind of view on what should happen?’’ Ms Barr asked.

“It’s pretty obvious that people did the wrong thing here.”

"There are a number of people who committed suicide"
Education Minister Jason Clare has spoken to Natalie Barr about the tragic toll on Australian families as the long-awaited findings into the Robodebt scheme are released today. #sunriseon7pic.twitter.com/cEUGsLHYdj

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) July 6, 2023

Senator McKenzie said politicians expected frank and fearless advice from public servants and something had clearly gone “wrong.”

“This was a comprehensive royal commission, we had from former prime ministers,

ministers, senior public servants, and indeed, the broader public on this particular issue, and I think the findings are going to be very fulsome and give us, I hope, ways to ensure that this cannot happen again,’’ she said.

Labor fronbencher Jason Clare said he was thinking of the victims.

“Nat, there is a report in the papers today about a mother named Jennifer Miller and her son Reese committed suicide a few years ago,’’ Mr Clare said.

“He was being chased for an $18,000 debt that he did not owe. I’m thinking about her and I’m thinking about families like that today.

“There were a number of people who committed suicide, others who try to take their own life, end up in hospital, they are still on medication today. They are the real-life human consequences of what happened here.”

Sunrise host Natalie Barr slammed the Robodebt scheme as “unlawful”. Picture: Seven

Labor frontbencher Jason Clare said he was thinking of the victims. Picture: Seven

Earlier on Friday, Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten revealed that the “freight train of misery” created by the Robodebt royal commission could lead to referrals to the national anti-corruption commission.

Senior ministers are already gearing up to challenge the findings of the report with the government approving taxpayer-funded legal assistance.

Commissioner Catherine Holmes, SC is expected to hand her report to the governor-general this morning but it’s the July 1 extension she was granted that has led to speculation it could relate to the corruption watchdog.

A bombshell report into the Robodebt scandal is expected to contain savage criticisms of key figures in the Morrison Government and senior public servants and a secret “sealed section” covering potential “criminal and civil prosecutions”.

Officials from the royal commission into the scheme began briefing departmental chiefs on Thursday of adverse findings regarding employees ahead of the public release of the report.

News.com.au has confirmed that in the 900-page report the royal commissioner Ms Catherine Holmes AC SC Commission into the Robodebt Scheme includes a secret “sealed section” containing referrals.

Former PM Scott Morrison - who was one of a conga line of ministers who gave evidence about the report - remains overseas enjoying a European holiday with his family. Picture: Supplied

In her letter to the Governor-General, Ms Homes says that an additional chapter remains secret and will not to be tabled to protect any future “civil action and criminal prosecution”.

Asked on ABC News Breakfast whether that delay was to allow her the option of referring to the national anti-corruption body Mr Shorten said that was the case.

“That’s correct; that is my understanding,” Mr Shorten said.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission began operations on July 1 and she would have been unable to refer matters if she had reported before that date.

Mr Shorten said the robo-debt scheme was a disgrace and he wanted to make sure it could never happen again.

“I think that’s the only way we can do true justice to what’s going on is to make sure it can’t happen again,” Mr Shorten told ABC News Breakfast.

It’s also expected to reflect on the culture within

“There was a sense of fear amongst [them] that if you complain too much, your opportunities in the service will be blocked,” he said.

“I don’t want to let any individual off the hook by prematurely commenting about circumstances but after four-and-a-half-years of unlawful behaviour, not only the construction of an unlawful scheme but the maintenance of an unlawful scheme despite the farrago of complaint and cacophony of unhappiness, the fact that they keep this freight train of misery going – somebody has got to be responsible somewhere,” he said.

Senior government sources have confirmed that the Commonwealth was inittially advised of up to 16 adverse findings that the report was considering.

The hearings saw a conga line of former Prime Ministers give evidence about the scheme including Scott Morrison and Malcolm Turnbull and former cabinet ministers including Christian Porter, Alan Tudge and Stuart Robert.

Commissioner Catherine Holmes, SC is expected to hand her report to the governor-general this morning. Picture: Liam Kidston

Robodebts were debts that were raised between July 2015 and November 2019 under the Income Compliance Program.

They were raised using averaged Australian Taxation Office (ATO) income information and were subsequently found to be unlawful.

In recent months the Commonwealth has been advised of up to 16 “Notices of Potential Adverse Findings.

They include findings about the conduct of individuals responsible for the development and implementation of the program.

The adverse findings will also consider data matching during Robodebt between the Department of Human Services and the Australian Tax Office and the circumstances around the 2017 and 2019 Ombudsman’s reports into the Robodebt Scheme.

It will examine the prosecution briefs referred to the Commonwealth DPP by DHS and the arrangements of the in-house legal teams in DHS and DSS.

It will also examine the data and flaws underlying the budget assumptions that underpinned the Robodebt Scheme and debt recovery by the Department of Human Services.

During his own evidence to the inquiry, former Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was given “very explicit” advice that no legislation was needed for the scheme which would ultimately become Robodebt.

“The critical failure in the system was that this advice, which had been sought prior to my turning up, was not brought to the attention of ministers, and I believe there was an obligation and duty to do so,” Mr Morrison said.

“I believe that was a reasonable expectation of a minister of their department.”

Mr Morrison - who was one of a conga line of ministers who gave evidence about the report - remains overseas enjoying a European holiday but is expected to respond to the findings later today.