Knox Class Action (Facilitation) Bill 2026

Mr HOLZBERGER (Forde) (17:21): In this tragic tale, there are many heroes. They are not victims. There are two heroes in particular who I want to talk about in this my second contribution on robodebt that I'm privileged to make to this place.

The first contribution was when I recounted Kath Madgwick's evidence to the royal commission into robodebt. She relayed the events that led up to her son's suicide and how she had turned that personal tragedy into a crusade—a crusade to find justice for her son but also to make life better for other people. After I read her testimony to this place, Kath Madgwick, on the Facebook post that I'd made, commented: Thank you Rowen Holzberger MP for that accurate account of what happened.

This post means the world to me and I cannot express my gratitude to you! If you are up for it I would love the opportunity to come and meet you in Beenleigh? We still haven't organised that, Kath.

If we get a chance, let's do that soon. I know you have a sister in arms, Jennifer Miller, who you have, through these awful circumstances, joined forces with to shed light on what was an unspeakable failure of government policy. I know that because I've seen the media reports of you and Jennifer Miller together.

So I went looking and I found Jennifer's testimony to the royal commission, and her words sum up what this bill is all about much better than I can. Jennifer Miller gave her testimony to the royal commission on 17 February 2023. She said: 'My name is Jennifer Miller.

This statement made by me is to give a voice to what Rhys went through, since he is no longer here to speak for himself.' The statement went on: 5. I am a mother of two boys. My eldest … was born in 1983 and my youngest … was born in 1988. 6.

On 26 January 2017 Rhys took his life. I believe that the pressures placed on him by Centrelink and Dun & Bradstreet due to his Robodebt largely caused his death. 7. Rhys was a creative and quirky child.

He saw the beauty in things and was a very gentle soul. He was interested in artistic expression, and as Rhys got older his interest in music and art grew. 8. He was funny and sweet and had a terrific group of friends in Cairns, where our family lived on and off for many years.

He and his friends would always be getting together and making music with their band, doing live shows, or making up silly skits and having fun. 9. I had separated from Rhys's father in 1990. It was a bitter breakup and I know that this did affect both of the boys.

When Rhys was about three and a half years old, I met my current husband and the boys grew to have an enormous amount of respect and love for— him. It goes on: 10. When Rhys started to show signs of experiencing panic and anxiety towards the end of his high schooling it was worrying, but we managed it as best as we could, and he finished high school in 2005. 11.

During his high school years, Rhys worked casually in Cairns. He continued in casual positions after graduating from high school. He was only able to secure casual work, as the roles he was interested in fluctuated with seasonal demand.

For a time, Rhys worked in customer service at a local photography store. I knew that he was living with anxiety, and that he had his struggles with depression, but he was also excited about his future. We always supported him pursuing his passions and living his life on his terms. 12.

It was around early 2009 that Rhys and a group of his friends decided to move to Melbourne. Once they had made the move, the boys often had to couch-surf until they were able to establish accommodation and work. In that first year Rhys continued to couch-surf, and at times he was homeless.

Ultimately though, Rhys found his feet and settled into Melbourne's music and art scene, playing in two bands. Rhys was receiving some Centrelink payments but found a job doing photography for the Museum of Melbourne and he later worked at a florist in Prahran Market. Later, Rhys found a job at … Florists.

Rhys was very talented with floral designs and he was highly regarded … All of the jobs that Rhys had in Melbourne were on a casual basis or involved seasonal work. 13. He devoted himself to his work, but always made time for friends and other commitments. From 2014 Rhys was in a relationship with his partner … who he had met in Melbourne. … was a big support to Rhys, and they were together until he passed away … 14.

When Rhys moved to Melbourne his anxiety did increase, but he would call me and let me know when he wasn't feeling right. … If he needed anything I would help him out, as would his biological father and his brother, but I know I was the only one in the family that he felt like he could talk to about his mental health issues. 15. … I know that despite working as much as he could he struggled to keep his head above water, and that anything financial was a major source of stress for him. 16.

Towards the end of May 2016 Rhys rang me. He was extremely stressed and scared of his suicidal thoughts. He told me that he had large debt from Centrelink and was worried about it. … 17.

I flew down in the first week of June 2016 and stayed with Rhys for a week or so. Rhys told me about the debt and said it was over $10,000. I didn't think that he could have a debt that large, and I said to him words to the effect of that it was rubbish, and that we would sort it out together.

I was of the view that since he had been couch-surfing and not working much in the 2010-11 financial year, the … debt did not add up. 18. I suggested that we go to the Centrelink office … in Melbourne … But when we were served, the customer service officer did not look at Rhys' file at all and told us to ring a 1800 number. We could not understand why they were not able to tell him anything … We left feeling frustrated … 19.

I remember Rhys being very overwhelmed and anxious about the whole process. … Rhys … did ring the 1800 number he was on hold at length. I believe that this added to his feelings of frustration and helplessness, as he was doing as he had been told but still faced difficulty getting answers about his debt. 20. … Once I returned home, I was unaware how frequently he was being contacted by Centrelink, and then by Dun & Bradstreet … 21.

At the time of his death, Rhys was living with … and another friend. … did her best to help Rhys by shielding him from the letters that he was receiving. She told me how she would take the debt letters from the mailbox and put them somewhere out of the way, so that they were not the first thing he saw upon arriving home from work. She would show them to him at a time when she thought he might be better able to deal with the stress the letters caused.

When I was talking to … after Rhys had passed, she told me about his first suicide attempt in May 2016 … when the Centrelink pressures commenced. Rhys had not told me about this. 22. … despite his struggles, he would have wanted to protect me from his troubles. I believe that this is why he did not share what he was going through with Centrelink … 23.

At the time immediately following Rhys' death I requested access to his file from Centrelink. This was not granted. … but I was barred from accessing Rhys' information despite numerous requests for his information. This position was maintained until I was able to access certain documents by virtue of this Royal Commission.

Only very recently have I been able to review the correspondence sent to him. … … … 26. … I also recall that Rhys said he did not have the payslips or information Centrelink was asking for to confirm whether the debt was correct or not. Rhys had made a post on Facebook on 25 May 2016 that he had a debt, but that his proof—being pay documents—were "long gone". … … … 28. … 20 May 2016, Centrelink had finished the first review and a debt of $10,876.23 had been raised against him. … I know that Rhys was sent four individual letters; each dated 20 May 2016, which contained the amount and period of each debt and had a due date of 20 June 2016 for the payment of these debts. 29.

From 21 June 2016 Centrelink started withholding money from Rhys' Newstart payments … 30. After he had passed, I spoke with … about Rhys he had been feeling during this time. She told me that he had felt helpless.

She told me how, despite trying to do his best to get ahead, he felt powerless against a system that he felt was doing its best to crush him. At this point, let's take a break from Jennifer's testimony for just a minute. Between June 2016 and 30 October 2016, there were various interactions with Centrelink.

Newstart was cut off, restored and cut off, and there was correspondence about the debt. Then, on 17 October, the second review into Rhys's income for the 2013 financial year came up with an additional debt of $7,035. I break here because at this point what she says could be viewed as mechanical.

But, when you think about it and actually read it, you realise it that is nothing short of hounding somebody to their death. She continues: 43. On 18 October 2016 Centrelink sent Rhys a letter (which was also delivered to his MyGov account … notifying him of the additional debt and giving him a due date of 15 November 2016— less than a month later, mind you— 44.

On 20 October 2016— two days later— Centrelink sent Rhys a letter notifying him of the balance of the first review, requesting that he contact them to enter a payment agreement, and letting him know that if he did not repay the outstanding amount or contact them, they may reduce his Centrelink payments, refer the account to a debt collection agency, garnish his wages or tax refund, or refer the matter to solicitors for legal action. 45.

On 7 November 2016, because Rhys was no longer receiving an income support payment from Centrelink and had not contacted Centrelink to establish an alternate payment arrangement, Centrelink referred the first review amount to Dun & Bradstreet. 46. On 8 November 2016 the first demand letter was sent to Rhys by Dun & Bradstreet with a total outstanding amount of $10.283.81.

A text message was also sent to Rhys' phone. 47. On 12 November 2016 Dun & Bradstreet called Rhys and left a message on his phone. 48. On 15 November 2016 Dun & Bradstreet sent Rhys a final demand letter in relation to the first review amount. 49.

On 16 November 2016 Dun & Bradstreet called Rhys and left a message on his phone. 50. On 19 November 2016 Dun & Bradstreet called Rhys and left a message on his phone. 51. On 23 November 2016 Dun & Bradstreet called Rhys and left a message on his phone. 52.

On 24 November 2016 Dun & Bradstreet called Rhys and left a message on his phone. 53. On 26 November 2016 Dun & Bradstreet called Rhys and left a message on his phone. 54. On 28 November 2016 … Centrelink referred the second review amount to Dun & Bradstreet. 55.

On 28 November 2016 Dun & Bradstreet sent Rhys a "Centrelink Consolidated Invoice Letter" which combined the first and second review amounts into a total demand amount of $17,319.58. A text message was also sent to Rhys' phone. 56. On 29 November 2016 Dun & Bradstreet sent a first demand letter to Rhys seeking the total demand … 57.

On 6 December 2016 Dun & Bradstreet sent Rhys a final demand letter … 58. On 8 December 2016 Dun & Bradstreet called Rhys but there was no answer. 59. On 12 December 2016 Dun & Bradstreet called Rhys and left a message on his phone. 60.

On 14 December 2016 Dun & Bradstreet called Rhys and left a message on his phone. … … … 62. On 16 December 2016 Dun & Bradstreet called Rhys and left a message on his phone. 63. On 31 December 2016 Dun & Bradstreet sent a letter dated 3 January 2017 with the header "Urgent Attention Required" to Rhys' address. 64.

On 4 January 2017 Dun & Bradstreet called Rhys and left a message on his phone. 65. On 4 January 2017— again, on the same day— Dun & Bradstreet called Rhys and left a message on his phone. 66. On 6 January 2017 Dun & Bradstreet called Rhys and left a message on his phone. 67.

On 26 January 2017, just after 8pm, Rhys took his own life. 68. Rhys received 12 letters from Centrelink between 12 May 2016 and 20 October 2016. He was phoned by Centrelink between five and six times. 69.

When the debts were referred to Dun & Bradstreet, he received six letters, two text messages and 13 phone calls between 7 November 2016 and 6 January 2017. 70. I know from reviewing documents provided to me by virtue of this Royal Commission that Rhys had been assessed for a Disability Support Pension (DSP) on 18 September 2015. This assessment identified that Rhys had a permanent psychiatric disorder which was identified as anxiety and depression and that he suffered from anxiety and panic attacks.

I just want to—I don't have enough time. I don't have enough time, because the thing that I really wanted to spend time on is just to remember that Rhys is not a victim. That's why I want to return—it's so easy, when we're in this place and we've got examples, to look at what happened rather than who it happened to.

So I want to read just this beginning: Rhys was a creative and quirky child. He saw the beauty in things and was a very gentle soul. He was interested in artistic expression, and as Rhys got older his interest in music and art grew. … … … Rhys found his feet and settled into Melbourne's music and art scene, playing in two bands.

Rhys was receiving some Centrelink payments but found a job doing photography for the Museum of Melbourne and he later worked at a florist in Prahran Market. Later, Rhys found a job at … Florists. Rhys was very talented with floral designs and he was highly regarded … I commend this bill to the House.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Dr Freelander ): I thank the member for Forde. It was a very moving speech. I understand the member for Pearce would like to present a copy of her speech for incorporation into Hansard, in accordance with the resolution agreed to on 6 November 2025.