Robodebt: court approves $1.8bn settlement for victims of government’s ‘shameful’ failure

The settlement adds $112m interest to the $1.76bn in unlawful debts the commonwealth has agreed to wipe

A shameful chapter" in public administration has led to the federal court approving a settlement worth $1.8bn between the commonwealth and victims of the Coalition's robodebt scheme.

Justice Bernard Murphy in Friday's judgment criticised the federal government's massive failure", noting the court had heard heart-wrenching" stories of pain and anguish from victims of the Centrelink debt recovery program.