Pensions and Benefits

The majority voted in favour of disagreeing with a motion introduced by Maribyrnong MP Bill Shorten (Labor), which means it failed. The motion was to suspend the usual procedural rules - known as standing orders - in order to let another vote take place.

Motion text

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Maribyrnong from moving the following motion immediately—That the House:

(1) notes the:

(a) Morrison Government recently settled the Robodebt class action in the Federal Court of Australia for $1.9 billion; and

(b) Court judgment declared Robodebt was:

(i) a "shameful chapter" and a "massive failure of public administration";

(ii) the cause of "heart-wrenching" financial hardship, anxiety and distress, including suicidal ideation and in some cases suicide;

(iii) a "huge waste of public money"; and

(iv) unlawful and inaccurate, something that "should have been obvious" to the Government; and

(2) calls on the Morrison Government to:

(a) explain to the House why nobody has been held accountable for Robodebt, the biggest compliance failure on record by an Australian Government;

(b) promptly provide all information requested by the Senate but withheld on the basis of a public interest immunity claim while the Robodebt class action was underway; and

(c) immediately establish a Robodebt Royal Commission