Joint submission (led by Consumer Action) recommending that the Royal Commission refer the conduct of debt collectors Milton Graham and ARL to the ACCC for investigation. The submission argues that these companies, which were engaged by the commonwealth to collect debt as part of the Robodebt scheme, breached the law by making various assertions about the consequences of non-payment, including threatening legal action, garnishee or departure orders preventing overseas travel. In fact, these consequences were either not possible, intended or under consideration.
221209 CALC-FCA-EJA Submission - Robodebt RC - debt collectionRoyal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme
Submission to: Royal Commission
Related Projects
Additional submission: Gambling data vault (question on notice)
Submission to: House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs
Additional submission to Federal Inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm
Additional submission to Federal Inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm
Social Services Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Income Support) Bill 2021 March 2021
Submission to: Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs
This is the financial counselling sector submission in response to the proposed increase in the rate of JobSeeker. The Government’s increase to income support payments in March 2020 lifted hundreds of thousands of Australians out of poverty. One result was a sharp decline in people seeking the support of financial counsellors. This Bill will reverse much of the progress that Australia has made to alleviate poverty, returning thousands of Australians to instead living below the poverty line. These people will struggle to stay afloat in an economy that doesn’t have enough jobs for the number of people out of work. We urge the Parliament to permanently increase income support payments, including JobSeeker and Youth Allowance. We stand with the Australian Council of Social Service in calling for a permanent increase to lift payments to at least $65 per day.
This is the financial counselling sector submission in response to the proposed increase in the rate of JobSeeker. The Government’s increase to income support payments in March 2020 lifted hundreds of thousands of Australians out of poverty. One result was a sharp decline in people seeking the support of financial counsellors. This Bill will reverse much of the progress that Australia has made to alleviate poverty, returning thousands of Australians to instead living below the poverty line. These people will struggle to stay afloat in an economy that doesn’t have enough jobs for the number of people out of work. We urge the Parliament to permanently increase income support payments, including JobSeeker and Youth Allowance. We stand with the Australian Council of Social Service in calling for a permanent increase to lift payments to at least $65 per day.