Understanding the April 2024 Debt Pause Cohort
Dear Services Australia,
This request relates to the cohort of debts 'indirectly' affected by income apportionment. A number of such cases were paused by the Agency in April. I believe at the time, it was 42,000 debts affecting 31,000 people.
I seek the most recent document prepared by the Agency which describes:
- The potential extent and nature of the cohort (breakdown by payment type etc)
- the manner in which income apportionment affected or may have affected the calculation.
This request is in the public interest as it will assist the public to understand what full remediation of income apportionment will actually look like. In 2020, the secondary effects of unlawful robodebt received no systemic remedy, as the Agency chose lowest cost options. With the agency proposed recalculation method now lying under a legal cloud, these documents will assist an improved policy conversation.
Yours faithfully,
Frank N Fearless
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