Kathryn Campbell apologises for robodebt ‘hurt and harm’, denies it caused deaths
Department of Social Services secretary apologises but does not accept the program caused people to take their own lives in a testy exchange.
One of the top government officials who oversaw the Coalition’s illegal robodebt scheme has apologised for “any death” in Australia but did not accept the program caused people to take their own lives.
In a testy exchange at a Senate committee hearing into Centrelink’s compliance program, Department of Social Services secretary Kathryn Campbell on Monday acknowledged there were many people who felt “uneasy, frustrated” and found it difficult to navigate the scheme.
While she apologised for the “hurt and harm” from robodebt, which will see nearly 400,000 Australians refunded $720m, Ms Campbell did not say it had triggered deaths.
Labor senator Deborah O’Neill read out letters from mothers Jenny Miller and Kath Madgwick, who said the continuing harassment, pressure and distress caused by robodebt notices sent to their sons, Rhys James and Jarrad Madgwick, ultimately pushed them to take their own lives.
“Ms Campbell’s refusal to accept people have taken their lives over this disgusting system is not only not intelligent but is offensive,” Ms Madgwick wrote in one of the letters.
Ms Campbell responded: “I’m sorry for any death. I’m sorry for the fact that the instance you are referring to and people had hurt and harm from this program. I am sorry for that and I am very sorry for that mother, who is clearly devastated, as any mother would be.”
Asked to clarify whether she accepted there had been deaths because of robodebt, Ms Campbell said: “I did not say that. Senator O’Neill continues to misconstrue every answer I give.”
Senator O’Neill said Ms Campbell’s comments were “completely inadequate”.
The government began refunding debt raised illegally through income averaging in mid-July; it has paid back $545m.
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