Almost 200,000 robodebt cases to be wiped as Albanese government condemns ‘shameful’ scheme

Amanda Rishworth cites need for a welfare system that is not punitive' as she confirms reviews will be scrapped

• Get our free news app, morning email briefing or daily news podcast

Nearly 200,000 Australians will have their robodebt reviews wiped as the federal government scraps investigations that were put on hold for three years under the unlawful welfare scheme.

About 124,000 people were told they were under review for social security payments they had received, while 73,000 were never informed they were being assessed for potential debts under the data-matching program.

Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning