Robodebt official challenged by mothers of two young men who took their own lives

Department secretary asked at inquiry if she stands by earlier statement she did not accept people have died' over program

The mothers of two young men who took their own lives after receiving Centrelink debts have challenged a top bureaucrat who said she did not accept that people have died" over the Coalition's income compliance - or robodebt - program.

Kathryn Campbell, the secretary of the Department of Social Services, made the comments while under questioning from the Labor senator Deborah O'Neill at a Senate inquiry into Services Australia's income compliance program last month.