House debates
Thursday, 13 February 2020
Questions without Notice
Pensions and Benefits
2:45 pm
Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
My question is to the Minister for Government Services. Minister, how many Australians received debt notices issued under the government's illegal robodebt scheme, how much money are they owed, and when will they be repaid?
Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Let me thank the member for his question. As I responded to the Leader of the Opposition last week, the government announced that it has made a further refinement to the income compliance program, which is part of our ongoing commitment to continually strengthen and improve the scheme. The program has already undergone a number of iterations and refinements since its inception under Labor in 2011. In response to feedback, these changes will make the program more robust by requiring additional evidence when using information to identify them. We've been carefully and methodically working to identify those customers whose debts may have been calculated using apportioned ATO—
Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The minister will resume his seat for a second. Members on my left will cease interjecting. I've given the minister ample time for a preamble. The question itself didn't have a preamble. It asked three very specific questions that asked for figures, essentially. Whilst the minister can't be expected to have those answers with him, he needs to be relevant to the question or take it on notice.
Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Thank you, Mr Speaker. The process is highly manual, in terms of finding the data, and complex, as I informed the House. It's not appropriate to pre-empt that process. As I advised the House last week, I say the same thing now, which is that we'll advise the House—
Opposition members interjecting—
Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Minister, just pause for a second. Members on my left! Minister, have you concluded your answer?
Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Yes; I have.