Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Hansard source

The robodebt royal commission is necessary because, after 4½ years of breaking the law, the old government never actually explained how it happened. We've had the harrowing statements from witnesses. We've had countless statements from victims. At last count, there were about 400,000 victims of the previous government's illegality. This goes very much to the honesty of services.

In the royal commission, the evidence has come through, and it tells a terrible story. But the reason we're having the royal commission, and the reason why members of parliament should listen carefully to some of the stories that we're hearing now, is that it went on for 4½ years. I don't think any government is immune from making mistakes. I understand that. But surely we need to have the conversation both on this side of the House and on that side of the House. How could you keep breaking the law? That's not a matter for the royal commission. The Commonwealth solicitor said the scheme was unlawful. That's already a fact. But has anyone on that side stopped to think, 'How did we keep breaking the law for 4½ years?' Coalition members may see this as just a partisan issue, but, if we don't understand why it happened and how it happened, so far what we've had is a lot of people saying, 'I don't recall.' But I contrast the honesty of the victims who are bravely retelling their stories with the cowardice of the— (Time expired)

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