Alan Tudge’s senior staff failed to ask about robodebt scheme’s legality, inquiry hears

Former staffer to the human services minister unable to say what action he took over a review that raised issues with the scheme

• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

Alan Tudge's former senior staff have told a royal commission they did not ask the Department of Human Services if the robodebt scheme was legal.

The inquiry on Monday heard Andrew Asten, who worked as chief of staff to the former human services minister during the scandal in 2017, and Mark Wood, senior adviser, failed to ask departmental officials about the scheme's legality.

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