Number of Tasmanian error cases of robo-debt recorded over past three years is 6300: Labor

The number of Tasmanian error cases of so-called robo-debt recorded in the past three years has been revealed.

The Government has defended the controversial so-called robo-debt system.

THE number of Tasmanian error cases of so-called robo-debt recorded in the past three years is more than 6300, federal Labor says.

According to data released by the office of Labor’s government services spokesman Bill Shorten, 6361 cases in the state were found where debts were either wiped or reduced.

Of those, 4417 saw assessments completed with no debt, and 1944 instances where the debt identified was reduced.

In 6625 cases, debts were recovered in full while 4473 instances saw debts put on a repayment plan.

The data showed 6888 cases had a 10 per cent debt recovery fee applied.

The figures date back to July 2016.

Mr Shorten said nationally in that time, Australians hit with an inaccurate robo-debt have had it reduced on 65,813 occasions, and had it completely overturned 168,284 times.

Bill Shorten . Picture: AAP/ELLEN SMITH

“That is 234,097 dodgy robo-debts — an error rate of nearly a quarter of a million,’’ he said.

“Robo-debt is malfunctioning. It is standing over innocent Australians, demanding money they don’t owe. The Government needs to stop covering up this disaster and go back to the drawing board.”

In a response to questions raised about the issue by Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching, Liberal Senator Anne Ruston said a letter initiating a review was sent following the identification of a discrepancy through data-matching.

“This does not equate to the number of individual Australians, as a customer may receive more than one initiation letter where more than one discrepancy is identified with respect to different time periods,’’ Senator Ruston said in her response.

Senator Ruston said when a debt is raised as part of a review process, it may be reduced for various reasons.

“… for example, because the customer provides additional information about their income, or updates their personal details, or because of a data entry correction or because of a combination of these factors,’’ she said. Last week, a United Nations human rights expert questioned the legality of the scheme. Special rapporteur Phil Alston said evidence provided to him showed high error rates.

MORE NEWS:

HELICOPTER TOURS TO OPEN UP ISLAND

STATE’S SECRET PARKS DEALS

WHY NEWS BULLETINS WENT OFF THE AIR

But Government Services Minister Stuart Robert stood by the systems, referring to an inquiry submission by Services Australia which highlighted the importance of “maintaining public confidence in the integrity of the welfare system”.