Robodebt royal commission: official says she failed to tell Scott Morrison scheme could be unlawful

Serena Wilson says she lacked the courage' to speak up after being made aware of legal advice

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A former senior Department of Social Services official, who was given damning legal advice the robodebt scheme was unlawful, has told a royal commission she lacked the courage" to speak up and was now ashamed".

In dramatic hearings on Wednesday, the royal commission was told Serena Wilson, a former deputy secretary at DSS, was made aware of the legal advice in early 2015 when the scheme was being designed.

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