Ministers must answer why Social Services keep breaking the law
Ministers must answer why Social Services keep breaking the law | Australian Greens Skip to main content Search Get Involved Join Donate Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Get Involved Join Donate Search Our plan Toggle Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Toggle Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Toggle Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement Toggle About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Ministers must answer why Social Services keep breaking the law 2026-01-27 Today’s Commonwealth Ombudsman Report finding that Services Australia and the Department of Social Services has been non-compliant with social security law regarding child support for the past six years shows a Department which has learned nothing from Robodebt and is seemingly incapable of administering the law.
As the Ombudsman notes in their report today, “Knowingly and deliberately not complying with the law was at the heart of Robodebt.”, yet the Government has persistent issues with following social services law, often to the harm of welfare recipients. Last year, two separate Commonwealth Ombudsman inquiries and an external review from Deloitte could not assure the lawfulness of the Targeted Compliance Framework, under which over a hundred thousand welfare payments are withheld from recipients every month under the system known as ‘mutual obligations’.
Despite Labor Ministers being unable to assure the lawfulness of the mutual obligations system, the government continues to suspend vast numbers of payments each month ( learn more ). The Government was also forced to introduce legislation last year to retrospectively legalise the collection of over $1 billion of welfare debts after it was found that the method used to calculate debts for years was unlawful.
Regarding the child support law issue raised in the Ombudsman’s report, the Greens have sought a briefing from the government on legislation planned to be introduced to the Parliament in February. Lines attributable to Senator Penny Allman-Payne, Greens spokesperson for Social Services: “This will be the second time in just six months that the government has sought to rush through retrospective laws to cover the fact they can’t administer the welfare system legally.” “Labor can’t even say if a core part of their welfare system is lawful, yet they continue to use that system of ‘mutual obligations’ to unlawfully suspend over a hundred thousand welfare payments from people who need them every month.” “How can anyone trust that our welfare system is being administered correctly and fairly when the government keeps on breaking its own laws, and can hide it for six years?” “When families on income support break the rules, they get the book thrown at them, but when the government does it it’s like it never happened.” “Robodebt showed us what happens when the government breaks its own laws without consequence, and it’s clear the Department has not learned its lesson.” “It’s time Labor took responsibility for their own Departments and brought them in line with the law, including abolishing the unlawful mutual obligations system now.” Facebook for the Australian Greens YouTube for the Australian Greens X for the Australian Greens Instagram for the Australian Greens Bluesky for the Australian Greens Privacy Members website Your safety Contact us Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action In your language 2025 policy platform Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Federal portfolios Federal media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Upcoming events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Green Magazine All news Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Members website State/territory parties Contact us The Greens acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.
We acknowledge that these lands were stolen and sovereignty was never ceded. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. The Australian Greens Authorised by Gemmia Burden & Caroline Atkinson, The Greens, 1 Anthony Rolfe Avenue, Gungahlin, 2912 Site & copyright information Privacy Your Safety View this site in High Contrast mode We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.
Find out more about how we use cookies and how you can avoid trackers online. Learn more No, thanks OK