Latest news with #Robodebt
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Taxman told to tone it down and cut jargon from letters
Lodging a tax return is stressful enough without receiving jargon-filled letters, says an ombudsman telling the taxman to watch their tone. The Australian Taxation Office sends more than 140 million letters and messages to Australians each year, using almost 3000 correspondence templates. But a Tax Ombudsman review examining six commonly used templates found many people still find some of the letters confusing or too technical, and their tone can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety. "We've all received a letter from the ATO at some point and wondered what on earth it was about," Tax Ombudsman Ruth Owen said. "The ATO focuses on what it wants to say, not what the taxpayer needs to know, without thinking about how the letter will be read or interpreted." Ms Owen noted the direct language used "can sometimes seem threatening and imply guilt or assign blame to the reader". The report referred to a 2023 campaign where the ATO wrote to recipients about historical debts, whose tone independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie described as having "more than a whiff of Robodebt". The ATO was ultimately forced to pause the campaign. She explained that the sampling of letters examined found the ATO assumes the reader has good technical tax knowledge, proficiency in English and understands all the terms being used. The 44-page report, which drew on the analytical skills of a plain language expert, also concluded the ATO's letters lacked empathy for the reader in some circumstances. Some of the ATO letters exhibited "lengthy, complex sentence structures and illustrated how they reduce readability", the expert said. The ombudsman added the letters could be couched in language and terms that could better support culturally and linguistically diverse audiences, First Nations people and people living with disability. The extensive examination also found letters were not always going to the right taxpayer. It recommended the office could better work with taxpayers and tax agents to ensure letters were sent to the right address. The ATO accepted all four recommendations by the ombudsman to improve its letter writing.
Sky News AU
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Former prime minister Scott Morrison faces backlash for King's Birthday Honour as petition nears 10,000 signatures
More than half of Australians voting in a new poll have said the King's Birthday Honours list got it wrong, as backlash mounts over Scott Morrison receiving the nation's highest civilian award. More than half of Australians taking part in a new poll have said the 2025 King's Birthday Honours List got it wrong, with backlash over Scott Morrison receiving the nation's highest civilian honour. Mr Morrison was one of 14 people named as a Companion of the Order of Australia in the King's Birthday Honours List on Monday. The former prime minister received the recognition 'for eminent service to the people', 'leadership of the national COVID-19 response' and his 'economic initiatives'. However, a News Corp reader poll with more than 2,000 responses found 57 per cent of Australians disagreed with the honours list. There has also been a petition set up with more than 9,000 signatures protesting Mr Morrison's reception of the award. 'Scott Morrison does not deserve to be awarded Australia's highest award,' the petition said. 'Let's not forget Robodebt, Sports and other rorts, the secret ministries, he didn't hold a hose, climate denial, millions given out to corporate COVID relief… 'Australia made its decision on Scott Morrison when the out-of-touch, chaotic and arrogant government of one of Australia's worst PMs was wiped out in 2022.' Mr Morrison's tenure ended in defeat in the 2022 federal election, following the controversial appointment of himself to multiple secret ministerial portfolios. The secret appointments were later condemned when the government's solicitor general said the decision 'fundamentally undermined' responsible government. — Scott Morrison (@ScoMo30) June 8, 2025 Mr Morrison told Sky News he was 'very humbled by the recognition' and gave credit to the Australian people for enduring through a time of multiple national crises. 'I'm very humbled by the recognition and thankful to the Australian people who gave me the opportunity to serve as Prime Minister,' he said. 'We were challenged in so many different ways during those almost four years I served as Prime Minister.' He pointed to everything from natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic and the recession it caused, and threats in the Indo-Pacific. Mr Morrison said his most defining legacy was strengthening Australia's national security through international partnerships. 'The security challenges we faced in the Indo-Pacific were particularly concerning and they continue to this day,' he said. 'To be able to work together with allies and partners through the formation of AUKUS and through the establishment of the Quad Leaders Dialogue… proved to be a game changer.'
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Aussies unleash after Scott Morrison receives top accolade in King's Birthday Honours: 'Baffles me'
Australians have lashed out after Scott Morrison was awarded the highest accolade in the King's Birthday Honours List. The former prime minister, who led the nation for four years from 2018 to 2022, was recognised for his 'eminent service to the people and the parliament of Australia, particularly as prime minister'. A Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) is the highest award of the Order of Australia honours system. It is followed by Officer of the Order (AO), Member of the Order (AM), and Medal of the Order (OAM). Former prime ministers are typically honoured in the King's Birthday awards, but the 30th prime minister's recognition sparked widespread criticism. Mr Morrison's term as prime minister was overshadowed by multiple controversies, including his secret appointment to several ministerial portfolios, involvement in the Robodebt scandal, and his widely criticised remark during the 2019 Black Summer bushfires: 'I don't hold a hose, mate'. On Monday, Australians took to social media to blast the former PM. 'If you get a shiny trinket just because your a*** has occupied the PM's chair then what is that trinket worth?' one Australian wrote on X. 'Someone should have intervened to deprive Australia's worst ever Prime Minister of this award.' 'It baffles me that we award public servants for doing the job they were paid for. I understand if they do something 'special', but politicians very rarely do,' another added. 'Morrison certainly did nothing 'special'. Not to mention the retirement package that they all enjoy.' 'It's demeaning of the honour system to be giving this cruel, disingenuous s***-bag any honour,' a third added. One Aussie kept a close tally of Mr Morrison's missteps. 'You lied to the public. Repeatedly. You appointed yourself to five secret ministries. Then claimed it was no big deal,' they wrote. 'You prayed the virus away, outsourced the vaccine rollout, then took credit when premiers fixed your mess. 'You fled to Hawaii during a bushfire crisis. Then blamed your daughters. 'Oh Scotty. Even your religion's ashamed of you. Jesus turned water into wine. You turned democracy into a private members club for gas executives.' Some Australians said Mr Morrison was 'underrated'. 'Respect, well deserved,' one wrote. 'Well deserved, Scomo is very underrated and deserves a lot more respect than what he is given,' another said. Since the establishment of the Order of Australia in 1975, every ex-prime minister has been appointed a Companion except Paul Keating. He declined because he believed the honours should be reserved for those whose community work went unrecognised. Mr Morrison's honour specifically points to his 'notable contributions to global engagement, to leadership of the national Covid response, to economic initiatives, and to national security enhancements, especially through leadership of Australia's contribution to AUKUS'. He received significant support during the early days of the pandemic, with an April 2020 Newspoll revealing he had the highest satisfaction rating for any prime minister since Kevin Rudd in 2009. But by the end of his second term, he had become the most unpopular major party leader since at least 1987, according to an Australian National University study. The King's Birthday Honours List names 581 people in the General Division of the Order of Australia, including academics, ex-sport stars, leaders and creatives. 'These honours recognise the selfless service, integrity, achievement, creativity, and care that flourish across our country,' Governor-General Sam Mostyn said. Fourteen people were appointed to the highest honour, AC. Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, best known for their work on films including Moulin Rouge, The Great Gatsby and Strictly Ballroom, received the accolade for their service to the arts. Environmental scientist Mark Howden, who served as a vice chair on the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, was also appointed to AC alongside business leader Jennifer Westacott and NASA climate science centre co-director Graeme Stephens. Bangerang and Wiradjuri woman Geraldine Atkinson has been named an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia for her work with Indigenous communities and reconciliation.
ABC News
18-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Calls for compassion and review as stamp duty concession reassessment likened to Robodebt
Canberrans say they are receiving aggressive and impersonal demands for money from the ACT Revenue Office in a system one MLA likened to the Robodebt scheme. There are calls to reform the office's review and repayment system from within the Legislative Assembly amidst growing criticism of the language and impersonal approach taken. It comes after several Canberrans came forward in response to ABC's reporting last week and said they were on the receiving end of aggressive demands for repayments. After she separated from her ex-husband several years ago, Steph was determined for a fresh start. The ACT stamp duty concession scheme offered a vital doorway to buy a home. "Honestly, it was so important," Steph said. Like many who were initially granted the money, Steph did a self-assessment online and had legal assistance to try to ensure she was eligible. "I had been legally separated from my ex-husband the year before," Steph said. "My ex had moved out, we were completely financially separated, and I thought, 'Cool, I'm not in a domestic partnership.' So I applied for the concession." She purchased her house and thought everything was in order, but in the middle of last year, Steph was informed she was being reassessed. The information the revenue office wanted made Steph "pretty uncomfortable," she said — being deeply personal and sensitive — particularly when a written notice arrived after an initial phone call. "[The] following correspondence from them was really quite hardline, bordering on aggressive," she said. This part of the process — the language, tone and warnings contained in the notices — has been repeatedly highlighted by those who have contacted the ABC. Within days of responding to the review notification, Steph received an email from the Revenue Office stating she had three weeks to pay $35,000 — $23,000 in stamp duty plus more than $6,000 in accrued interest over that time and an almost $6,000 penalty. The office said that because Steph's divorce had not been finalised, her ex's income should have been included in the income test, even though they were legally separated. Like the other notices of reassessment that the ABC has seen, the options provided to people for payment plans or for financial counselling help was contained in a single line: "The debt recovery team can be contacted by emailing DebtManagement@ or by calling 02 6207 0028 and selecting option 6, then option 1." Steph said it was impossible to pay up front. "I had to apply for a mortgage top-up, and that [took] more than three weeks coming through," she said. Steph decided to appeal the decision with the help of lawyers, at further personal expense. That left her open to financial risk, but Steph was adamant something must be done because she believed the decision by the Revenue Office was fundamentally flawed. "They are wrong, and I need to fight this," she said. After her legal battle, the ACT Treasury granted her a special "act of grace" payment. She was reimbursed the money the Revenue Office claimed she owed, but not thousands in interest and legal fees. She considers herself one of the lucky few in a system she says preys on the vulnerable. "The legislation still stands as it is and this could still happen to other people," she said. In response to questions by the ABC, an ACT Revenue Office spokesperson said: ACTRO's correspondence attempts to inform people of their obligations, reasons, options and possible consequences. Correspondence is regularly reviewed as part of standard operations. ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said it was "really distressing" to hear stories like Steph's from many Canberrans just trying to do the right thing. "The irony in this whole thing is that this scheme is targeting people who are already struggling to get a home to live in. This scheme is designed to lift them up and help them get across that barrier." He said receiving "legalistic" and "unclear, overly officious, seemingly intimidating" correspondence from a government body lacked compassion. Mr Rattenbury said this scheme was "clearly on a different scale" to Robodebt, "but the principles are the same". "It's about treating people with decency and giving them a reasonable chance to address either an error or to make their case as to why, in fact, the Revenue Office might have made a mistake, he said. Mr Rattenbury would like to see a "human touch" in the debt collection process such as, for example, a case officer to talk to. Mr Rattenbury welcomed a formal inquiry into the scheme which was unanimously supported by the ACT Legislative Assembly last week. "It's going to be very important to create the space for people to come forward and tell their stories," he said. "That is how we are going to draw out the best information here." Care Financial Counselling and Consumer Law CEO Carmel Franklin has helped thousands of Canberrans deal with paying off debt. She said most people in debt genuinely wanted to pay it off. "The people who come to us can't pay debts rather than won't pay debts," she said. "It's not that they're wilfully deciding not to pay. It's that they are in a position because of life circumstances, often beyond their control, that they're unable to make the payments at that point. "They come to us quite distressed, quite embarrassed, feeling shameful that they have these debts." Ms Franklin said the initial approach by organisations seeking repayment was critical. "If people feel that somebody wants to help them and work through what the issues are, they will engage. If they feel like they're being treated poorly or they're scared, they are more likely to put their head in the sand and do nothing about it, which is actually worse for both the person trying to collect the money and the person who owes the money." She said many organisations were learning to tailor debt-collecting approaches to suit the people involved and she said the Revenue Office could use something similar to ensure people were treated fairly and humanely. It's a sentiment shared by Steph.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Centrelink warning over $631 cash boost: 'A bit dodgy'
Welcome to legal column where lawyers Alison and Jillian Barrett from Maurice Blackburn tackle problems everyday Aussies face — whether it be consumer, property, money matters impacting relationships or work. This week, a welfare recipient has expressed concerns about an overpayment. Question "I've been on Centrelink for about six months after being made redundant from my old job. I didn't get a very good pay out as I was casual and I've been thinking about training to make a career swap. I noticed last week that my Centrelink payment was $631 more than it should be. I've found it a bit daunting to think about earning less while going back to TAFE and this bit of extra cash could help me out. If they've sent me the money, surely I can keep it? Or is it likely they will catch me out? Would I have to pay any extra back as interest? The whole Robodebt thing has me a bit worried but I do know this is a bit dodgy." Stephen, Victoria. Answer While you might be tempted to keep the extra money you received from Centrelink, we recommend that you don't. Centrelink payments are governed by strict regulations to ensure that recipients receive the correct amount based on their circumstances. It is an offence to keep a payment that you know is more than the amount you should have received. It is a form of fraud. If you break this law then you may have to repay the amount to Centrelink, potentially with interest, and you can be charged with a criminal offence. RELATED Centrelink Work Bonus offers $4,000 boost to pensioners ATO 'hit list' revealed for 15 million Aussies as taxpayer's common claim targeted Tax, HECS, Medicare: All the major cost-of-living relief coming for millions of Aussies Even if you pay the money back you could still be charged with a criminal offence which could result in a fine, or even imprisonment. Other actions that could be a criminal offence with Centrelink include: Giving false or misleading information to Centrelink Knowingly completing a form incorrectly Receiving a payment that you know you're not entitled to and not reporting it Centrelink has methods of verification and systems in place to detect discrepancies. So while you might think you've got away with it, they will end up identifying the overpayment and make you pay it back. If you're concerned about the financial impact of repaying an overpayment, Centrelink offers options to set up a repayment plan that suits your situation. You can contact them to discuss your options and find a manageable solution. You've mentioned the Robodebt scandal, which involved the unlawful recovery of debts through automated processes. The Robodebt issues heightened awareness around Centrelink's debt recovery practices and the government has taken steps to address these practices. If you report the overpayment to Centrelink now, you'll be able to focus on your career transition and training at TAFE without the concern of a potential criminal charge hanging over you, which could impact your future career prospects. This legal information is general in nature and should not be regarded as specific legal advice. If you need legal advice, you should consult a solicitor.
