Taxpayers to fund legal costs of Scott Morrison and other former ministers related to robodebt royal commission

Attorney general Mark Dreyfus has approved expenses for six former Coalition frontbenchers

• Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates
• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

Scott Morrison, Christian Porter, Alan Tudge, Stuart Robert, Michael Keenan and Marise Payne have received approval for taxpayer-funded legal expenses related to the robodebt royal commission.

The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, has approved the expenses for the six former ministers, who all held portfolios in government, social or human services at the centre of the inquiry into the federal government's unlawful use of income averaging to demand welfare repayments.

Sign up for Guardian Australia's free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup