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Federal Government must act to ensure robodebt scandal never happens again

Australians for Mental Health

Australians for Mental Health has today welcomed the historic settlement for Robodebt victims, but has also called for urgent whole-of-government reform so that no Australian is ever harmed by government policy in this way again. 

The Federal Government has settled the class action in the Federal Court, which is being hailed as a record compensation outcome for victims of the unlawful scheme first exposed by the Royal Commission.

“Today’s settlement is a hard-won step toward justice for hundreds of thousands of people who were harmed, but it cannot be the end of the story. We must ensure this never happens again,” Australians for Mental Health Executive Director Chris Gambian said. 

“The Royal Commission documented an unlawful program that caused profound distress, financial hardship and, in too many cases, catastrophic outcomes for individuals and families. A government that measures what matters would have seen the warning signs, listened to evidence, and changed course sooner,” Chris Gambian said. 

Australians for Mental Health is calling for urgent whole-of-government reform to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again which include: 

  • Legislating a Wellbeing Act to put mental health and wellbeing at the heart of all major policy and budget decisions.

  • Establishing an Office of Mental Health and Wellbeing in PMC (Prime Minister and Cabinet) to coordinate population-level mental health across portfolios.

  • Appointing an independent national Mental Health and Wellbeing Commissioner (within the Human Rights Commission) with a mandate to report to the Prime Minister and Parliament.

About Australians for Mental Health

AFMH is a national movement advocating for structural reform so every portfolio, not just health, is accountable for improving population mental health and wellbeing. Our platform calls for a Wellbeing Act, an Office of Mental Health and Wellbeing in PM&C, and an independent national Mental Health and Wellbeing Commissioner.


Contact details:

Kathleen Ferguson — 0421 522 080