Not long ago, the Australian government was forced to abandon a scheme it was using to pursue welfare recipients for money.

The robo-debt scheme was binned in 2019 after the government finally asked the solicitor-general for legal advice.

He told them what many had long suspected: it was probably unlawful.

So who else knew about the potential illegality of robo-debt? How early did they know? And why did it go ahead at all?

Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on the robo-debt royal commission and how years of suffering could have been averted.




Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram.

Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.

Not long ago, the Australian government was forced to abandon a scheme it was using to pursue welfare recipients for money.The robo-debt scheme was binned in 2019 after the government finally asked the solicitor-general for legal advice.He told them what many had long suspected: it was probably unlawful.So who else knew about the potential illegality of robo-debt? How early did they know? And why did it go ahead at all?Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on the robo-debt royal commission and how years of suffering could have been averted. Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/7ampodcast">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>.Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.

An independent daily news show. We feature the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

An independent daily news show. We feature the country&rsquo;s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper. Hear from the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

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