Peter Dutton ‘went straight for politics on Robodebt’, says Jason Clare
Minister Jason Clare criticises Opposition Leader for ‘not getting it’, saying the damning report was about highlighting the human toll of the scheme.
Education Minister Jason Clare has criticised Opposition Leader Peter Dutton for going “straight for politics” when a damning report into the Robodebt scheme was handed down on Friday.
Mr Dutton accused Labor of politicising the release of the royal commission report to gain an advantage a week out from the Fadden by-election.
“Well, I believe very strongly that Bill Shorten politicised this issue from day one,” Mr Dutton said, speaking outside the LNP state convention in Brisbane on Saturday.
“And I would just sound a word of caution at the glee of the Prime Minister and Minister Shorten in relation to this issue.”
However, Mr Clare said the report was about highlighting the human toll of Robodebt, such as the story of Jennifer Miller whose son took his own life after he received a debt notice for $18,000.
“That the fact that Peter Dutton on the day that this came down, went straight for politics showed that this bloke doesn’t get it,” he told Sky News.
“It’s not about that. It’s about Jennifer, it’s about people like her.
“A number of people lost their lives, others tried to take their own lives or ended up in hospital and they’re still dealing with that.
“That’s the real human consequence of this. And that should always be kept in mind here. “This is now I think proven to be an illegal scheme that operated for four and a half years.”
When asked what he thought of former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s response to the report, Mr Clare said: “Scott Morrison and all of these ministers and bureaucrats are going to have to live with this on their conscience for the rest of their lives.”
Mr Clare said the robodebt royal commission had made it clear that as far back as late 2016, the former Coalition government and its senior public servants knew the system was wrong, “and yet they kept going”.
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