Nearly a year after Victoria Legal Aid won a landmark #robodebt test case, Gordon Legal's class action trial is set to get underway in the federal court at 10.15am.

I will be covering for the @GuardianAus and tweeting where possible.
You can also watch it here: webstreaming.lawinorder.com.au/robodebt
Here is @Paul_Karp's report of the government's climbdown a week before the VLA settlement. Stuart Robert called it a “refinement” of the program, and said only a “small cohort” was affected. theguardian.com/australia-news…
We revealed in March that the government had drawn up secret plans to pay back people affected, beginning in March. theguardian.com/australia-news… #auspol #robodebt
The government made the announcement on a Friday afternoon theguardian.com/australia-news…
Should be underway shortly. But a reminder that there is still a good possibility the parties could settle. Gordon Legal noted at a case management hearing last week that discussions were continuing. #robodebt
And we're away. "I can't hear you Mr Quinn, we're on mute." He finally replies: "Fantastic start." #robodebt
Looks like we might be headed towards a settlement. Bernie Quinn, for Gordon Legal, asks for more time (until 11am) to continue discussions between the parties. That's granted by justice Bernard Murphy, who notes more time will be given if requested
The court adjourned until 11am
Hmmm the stream has gone "off air"...
Court to resume at 1.30pm

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More from @lukehgomes

17 Nov
My analysis today: #Robodebt is the story of a government pulling all stops to dodge public scrutiny – right to the bitter end.

From day one, it was spin, legal manoeuvres and vicious attacks on critics who dared to speak out. theguardian.com/australia-news… #auspol
I'm going to create a thread here pulling together some other events that I couldn't fit into the story
Here is Kathryn Campbell, then head of DHS, now DSS, blaming welfare recipients and the media (which means, mostly my colleague @knausc) for problems with the #robodebt program theguardian.com/australia-news…
Read 11 tweets
16 Nov
And there it is: the parties have reached a settlement. No details were given.
Bernie Quinn, for Gordon Legal, said he was "delighted" to tell the court the matter had been "resolved". There are agreed terms and a settlement deed will be executed in the next few days
Justice Bernard Murphy congratulates the parties on resolving a "large" and "complex" case. He says they've saved a lot of "time and expense".
Read 6 tweets
29 Oct
Services Australia up in front of #estimates now. Strap in folks. #auspol
First off, Labor's Jenny McAllister asks officials about how they identify customers who are experiencing family violence.
Services Australia made 75,000 referrals for customers to family violence support in the past year
Read 41 tweets
28 Oct
New: Stuart Robert says Services Australia will resume debt raising activity from 2 November (except in Victoria due to state of disaster). Debt recovery (that is, enforcing repayments) will recommence from February 2021. @AmyRemeikis
Full statement here.
Katy Gallagher: Do you agree with you Coalition colleagues that the current rate of jobseeker acts as a disincentive?
Ruston says it's too early to say at this point.
Read 4 tweets
27 Oct
I will be tweeting Department of Social Services #estimates today. And filing to @GuardianAus blog #auspol
Just going through some DSS advertising contracts at the moment. Katy Gallagher wanted to ask about jobseeker but that'll be in the next session
DSS secretary Kathryn Campbell: "We have provided advice to the government on the rate of jobseeker."
Read 41 tweets
18 Sep
Quite a development in the #robodebt saga: The government lost 76 cases where the AAT said the debts weren't legally enforceable, Gordon Legal says.

It never appealed – and the decisions weren't made public. theguardian.com/australia-news… #auspol
Most of these decisions were made in 2017. We'd previously only known about five or six. By not appealing, the government ensured that a higher level of the tribunal which publishes its decisions didn't rule against it.
Alan Tudge is also named in the statement as claim. For example, he is said to have received a brief on 1 March that stated “33% of Robodebt-raised debts ‘were changed to $0 on review/reassessment’”.
Read 7 tweets

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