Principle Lawyer for Morrison’s Dept who Provided the Legal Advice for #RoboDebt , Has NO recollection, Not even of the heightened media interest 🤨
Shocking recollection for a lawyer.
Still, Greggery KC used his elegance to yield out the answers. 👍 #RoboDebtRC [1/2]
Anne Pulford also claims to not even recall seeing government ministers making press conferences in response to high media attention.
Ya gotta be kidding me?
Who would you pick as your lawyer? I’ll take Mr Greggery thanks. #RobodebtRC [2/2]
This is a principle DSS lawyer who wrote legal advice specifically on Robodebt, MULTIPLE times. I’m afraid further vids I’ll release (eventually) on Pulford are even more alarming, but we will get to that
The point of these videos tho is to emphasise the terrible recollection…
She wrote legal advice on income averaging, & a recovery free (10%) that govt had schemed up as an additional cost on welfare recipients who fail to submit the right details online
She claims not to recall anything on Robodebt other than what is in documents, even up until 2019
One of the worst parts of her evidence (and this isn’t even the alarming bit I mentioned above), was also that Pulford said she felt after she had given advice, she could wipe her hands clean & couldn’t even identify any failures, or anything that can be improved. #RobodebtRC
With Greggery’s excellent work, Pulford made shocking admissions that she was pushed to find a legal excuse to keep Robodebt running, and she seemingly complied… I’ll send the alarming evidence she gave in regards to this later/tomorrow…
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE giving LEGAL ADVICE to our GOVERNMENT FFS
Yet they want to hang their hat on such an extraordinary lack of recollection. If so, then are they fit for the job?
The Commissioner even remarked that she was Appalled at her legal team’s handling of cases
Recovery *fee (penalty)
“You gotta F’n be kidding me”
Oh and as you would have heard in clip 1 above, she confirmed she has
“No independent recollection” of the Ombudsman’s concerns raised.
SHE DEALT WITH THE OMBUDSMAN ENQUIRY by providing legislation and advice on the matter.
Nup, don’t recall a thing. Rightttt. 🙄
I’ll probably park the Robodebt RC videos (unless I get time for something small), for the day.
But watch out tomorrow, more Grilling to come.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
#RobodebtRC Legal Expert Lisa Keeling who analysed 2018 External Legal Advice (which was disregarded) says its not unusual for it to be left in Draft form if it’s
“Not Helpful” 😳
Commissioner
“It’s like a child putting its hands over its eyes and thinking you can’t see it” 🫣
This goes on from Pulford being shamozzled by the commissioner saying she was “Appalled” at legal advice being left in draft form when it’s not favourable. Lisa Keeling conducted a review of all legal advice re: Robodebt & conceded it’s not the right thing to do.
This is absolutely a huge concern that they take advice and just ditch whatever they don’t like. It’s not the way to conduct legal advice and all lawyers who engaged in this would know that. All lawyers know this.
After receiving External Legal Advice in 2018 that Robodebt’s use of Income Averaging was Unlawful, DSS’ Principal Lawyer Anne Pulford says she has absolutely no idea what she did with it. Greggery KC steps in to press, Commissioner finishes the job. #RoboDebtRC
2018 external advice provided by a top tier law firm, what happened to it? Pulford’s shocking recollection and lack of evidence following this is of utmost concern.
The external legal advice was right. But they found a way around to scheme running for longer by dismissing it.
#RoboDebtRC “I’m Appalled!”
A very concerned Commissioner Holmes lashes Principal DSS Lawyer Anne Pulford after evidence revealed her dept shelved External Legal Advice in 2018 which warned the scheme was UNLAWFUL.
Pulford thinks there is nothing “remarkable” about it 🤨
Pulford gave legal advice in 2014, stating income averaging was unlawful
In 2017, after meetings she can’t recall, (let’s say allegedly to be safe) she allegedly gave the green light to using income averaging.
In 2018, she received external legal advice from a top tier firm…
Advice which stated income averaging in its current form is unlawful.
It came as a Draft form, normal practise, Pulford recalling only from documents.
Evidence reveals there was high level discussions among her & her team.
#RobodebtRC With overwhelming evidence suggesting former DSS Deputy Secretary Serena Wilson pushed for income averaging knowing it was illegal, Justin Greggery KC is absolutely blistering as he squeezes out some inconceivable admissions.
[3 Parts - 1/3]
#RobodebtRC Heating UP 🔥 as Catherine Dalton is shown an email she received stating legal dept’s advice:
“An omission or failure to act (on leg. change) can only attract CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY when at the time of the failure there was an existing legal duty to perform the act”
So DSS had this advice from the legal dept (early 2015)
Dalton is shown a series of emails within her dept. where even management were raising questions.
Her dept sent email to DHS saying leg change is reqd.
Dalton claims she doesn’t know what happened after that.
Commissioner then shows her an email (which she says she can’t recall sending) where she raised further concerns to DHS. The reply she got is vague but she says she assumes they took her concerns seriously. doesn’t recall much else
#RobodebtRC ACOSS’ serious concerns weren’t addressed by Minister Tudge, so they went straight to the PM.
But action the LNP took after hearing these concerns is absolutely gobsmacking.
If there hasn’t been enough evidence that the LNP knew about the horrors of the #Robodebt & just didn’t care, this is pretty clear cut.
The concerns went all the way to the top, sighting all the health outcomes, tragedy & suicides
LNP’s response is to expand the scheme further
Back on the hearings, former DSS Catherine Dalton appearing (via video-telle-link).
Greggery KC asking questions.
Being questioned on meetings with DHS, her understanding of averaging etc.