Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Luke Henriques-Gomes Social affairs and inequality editor

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

Alan Tudge Justin Greggery KC Annette Musolino Mark Wood AGS Department of Human Services
Centrelink sign
A senior staff member of the then human services minister Alan Tudge said he had been told income averaging was a ‘longstanding’ practice but had not inquired as to its legality. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

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 to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Ground Beef and Strawberries Cost More as New Federal Diet Advice Puts Protein at Every Meal
Ground beef rose 7.4% and strawberries 10.4% in a year, as federal dietary advice stresses protein. Beans, eggs, and frozen produce can ease the cost.
Medical Daily
Medical Daily
Dog gives you the guilty look? Here's what research says it actually means
Walk into a room where something has gone wrong and your dog is already doing it: head low, ears back, eyes wide and soft, maybe a slow tail wag aimed at the floor. Every owner reads this the same way. The dog knows. Except the research says that is probably…
Times Pets
Times Pets
80 Beautiful Pottery Creations That Prove Creativity Has Absolutely No Limits (New Pics)
It’s stunning what people can create with just a lump of wet clay, their own hands, and a little bit of love and creativity. On r/Pottery, folks with all kinds of experience share the most amazing and creative things they made. So, as you scroll and admire the pieces, let…
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
The Story Behind Little Trees Is Even Stranger Than You Think
The iconic tree-shaped air freshener started with a smelly milk truck in 1952. Here's how Little Trees became a car-culture staple.
Motor1
Motor1
Would You Send Money to Someone You’ve Never Met? Romance Scammers Know How to Make You Say Yes
The first request for money might arrive after weeks of sweet messages, late-night conversations, and promises of a future together. It might sound less like a scam than an awkward favor between two people who care about each other.
Clever Dude
Clever Dude
Heavier Phone Use Past 10 at Night Linked with Teens Falling Asleep About 65 Minutes Later
On nights with extra phone use after 10 p.m., teens fell asleep about 65 minutes later, a JAMA Pediatrics study found. What parents can do.
Medical Daily
Medical Daily
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play