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AAP
AAP
Politics
Alex Mitchell

Top officials shut down robodebt criticism

The lives of many Australians were ruined by the robodebt scheme, a royal commission has heard. (Julian Smith/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

A senior public servant told a Social Services official to tone down language indicating the robodebt welfare management scheme wouldn't be lawful before it was introduced.

Andrew Whitecross, from the Social Services department, told the royal commission investigating the scheme it "couldn't be clearer" calculating welfare debts based on an average income would require laws to be changed in 2015.

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