Extension of the Robodebt Royal Commission
Minister for Social Services
The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Minister for Government Services
The Hon Bill Shorten MP
Attorney-General
Cabinet Secretary
The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP
Joint media release
The Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), has amended the Letters Patent to extend the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme.
Royal Commissioner Catherine Holmes AC SC advised the Government that a short extension was needed and the Government has agreed. The Royal Commission will now deliver its report on 30 June 2023.
The Royal Commission has been examining, among other things:
- The establishment, design and implementation of the Robodebt scheme, who was responsible for it, why they considered it necessary, and any concerns raised regarding legality and fairness,
- The handling of concerns raised about the Robodebt scheme, including adverse decisions made by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal,
- The outcomes of the Robodebt scheme, including the harm to vulnerable individuals and the total financial cost to government, and
- Measures needed to prevent similar failures in public administration.
The Government acknowledges the considerable work of Commissioner Holmes and her team to date and looks forward to receiving the Royal Commission’s final report.