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

Robodebt likely a ‘stuff up’ rather than a ‘conspiracy’, former department boss tells inquiry

Scott Morrison DSS DHS Christian Porter Bernard Murphy Justin Greggery Kathryn Campbell Malisa Golightly
Centrelink sign
Former DSS secretary Finn Pratt has told the robodebt inquiry he had no knowledge of the use of the unlawful ‘incoming averaging’ method central to the scheme. Photograph: Julian Smith/AAP

The former head of the Department of Social Services (DSS) has told a royal commission he refuses to believe there was a “conspiracy” among his staff to “dupe” him.

Also on Thursday, the contents of a crucial minute sent to then-social services minister Scott Morrison in February 2015 confirming his request for welfare “compliance” measures, and DSS warnings about the need for legislative change to enact robodebt, were revealed for the first time.

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
“Is Picking Your Nose Actually Bad For You? Human Anatomy Reveals A Surprisingly Nuanced Answer
Picking your nose might help you breathe more easily, but an anatomy video shows why scratching one particular area may be more dangerous than it appears.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Cigarette Smoke Reprogrammed Lung Stem Cells in Lab Models and Helped Steer Which Lung Cancer Type Formed
A Johns Hopkins lab study found that cigarette smoke primed lung stem cells for specific cancer types. What it shows and what it does not prove.
Medical Daily
Medical Daily
That Cute Squishy Toy Contains Water Beads — CPSC Says Stop Using It
A colorful squishy toy that looks like an innocent stress reliever may hide something parents cannot see: expandable water beads. About 37,000 Squishy Dumpling and Crazy Squib Ball toys were recalled on October 1 after regulators determined that their water beads could expand beyond federal limits and create a potentially…
Kids Ain't Cheap
Kids Ain't Cheap
103-year-old World War II veteran still runs a basement bar in Maryland that would be illegal to open today
At 103, World War II veteran Irvin Koch is still behind the counter at Irv’s Basement Bar in Maryland, a watering hole he has run since 1963. But there is a surprising reason his unusual home-based bar has survived for more than six decades: modern zoning rules would make it…
The Economic Times
The Economic Times
Travis Barker hospitalised
Travis Barker has shared photos from hospital, where his wife, Kourtney Kardashian, and daughter, Alabama Barker, were by his side.
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
Man goes to Tim Hortons and sees some Harry Potter-themed donuts. Then he takes a closer look: ‘I was deeply concerned’
Those are definitely not going to the Hogwarts feast!
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play