Stuart Robert admits making ‘false’ robodebt statements – but how real were his ‘personal misgivings’?
The former government services minister attributed ‘false’ statements to ‘cabinet solidarity’ but another version of events will be considered by the royal commission
Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast
When Guardian Australia reported in August 2019 that the Morrison government was considering an expansion of the robodebt scheme to pensioners and vulnerable people, Stuart Robert responded through a spokesperson: “The government is not considering any proposal to commence online compliance for vulnerable Australians.”
But on Thursday Robert told a royal commission that the leaked documents were real, that there was in fact such a proposal, one he thought at the time was “madness” and one he had managed to “deftly” delay. Robert said he had faced pressure to bring forward a plan to achieve robodebt’s budget savings from the cabinet secretary, who acted on behalf of the prime minister – that is, Scott Morrison.
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup
Law (Australia) | The Guardian
Recent Comments