Thread by @strangerous10

#RobodebtRC
“I’m not sure”
“I just don’t recall”
DHS Manager Mark Whitnell off to a sketchy start with an already fed up Commissioner not in the mood to cut him any slack. #IRemember

Thread from Whitnell’s previous woeful appearance at the commission. 👇 Seems we are back to having no memory as a main form of evidence. Aren’t we all shocked.

https://twitter.com/strangerous10/status/1601069588405710848

Angus Scott brings up an email showing details of the Feb 2015 meeting which both Ryman & Britton said they don’t recall. Whitnell was present. Let’s see what he recalls.

Was very busy at the time, can’t say, can’t recall, not sure, I just don’t know, can’t help, what year is it?

Pretty much what Whitnell is saying at the moment.

Whitnell being asked about his dealings with Malisa Golightly. He says he had to take a careful approach when dealing with her but did have experience working with her.

They now move onto his understanding of how recipients were given information on their income…

…Commissioner Holmes dives in asking if recipients “agree with the figure, what do you do?”

Whitnell waffles on but says they would calculate a debt based on the “information provided”

On who he spoke to and what he did about recipients who did not respond:
“I don’t recall”

Commissioner Holmes dives in again, she’s doing it a lot, this is great!

Asks if he notified Britton and Ryman of a “drastic change” being proposed to the scheme, Whitnell more or less, says yes. They would have been aware.

Scott asking Whitnell about his awareness of the high rate of recipients who did not respond from back in 2015.

Whitnell says he doesn’t understand so Scott explains again.
A waffle ensues…
Scott tries again, Whitnell says he still doesn’t get it.
Commissioner gives it a crack

Holmes links budget savings that would have been associated with the pre-Robodebt method of not creating a debt purely on the basis of a lack of response.

Whitnell says he doesn’t recall the costings at the time but says they were considering different strategies.

Whitnell has started multiple answers with:

“I don’t recall the specifics, but…”

Scott KC now moves onto DHS’ attempts to mislead via policy documents by removing detail about averaging.
Whitnell concedes it would be “misleading, yes”

The docs are from 2015 (we are still in this period)

Angus Scott now bringing up the NPP (policy doc I referred above) from 2015, and mentions that Ryman’s words (email) indicate there has been “no change” to how income is assessed (even tho there is a clear change).

Commissioner jumps in again and questions how they have the same budget figure showing, even tho there is a different method in the NPP (which would produce different savings)

Whitnell says he “can’t answer that”

Angus Scott KC brings up a final version of the NPP which was going to cabinet at the time (2015)
Asks Whitnell if he recalls it.

Whitnell says no, doesn’t recall, but accepts he would have seen it at the time.
There’s no mention in this final version of the use of averaging.😒

Now a document which Whitnell agrees he requested at the time, which shows detail of the Pilot (which had shocking results that they disregarded)

On the face of it, the document says the pilot has had “extremely positive” results.

Scott asks Whitnell if this is overstating it.

Whitnell says there were some positive aspects to it.

The next page has details of “unexpected outcomes” regarding the % of recipients responding which shows 60% dont respond.

Whitnell’ a handwritten notes are all over it too.

Whitnell agrees its a “significantly” high rate

Scott says this NPP shows a clear new method in creating debts when these recipients (60%) don’t respond.

Whitnell says he doesn’t know how he didn’t pick it up at the time and has no answer. Ouch.

Whitnell now being grilled on this initial letter which had a 60% no response rate.

Scott says the letter doesn’t clearly explain that if they don’t respond, they will have their income averaged.
Whitnell says he doesn’t understand but with Holme’s help he concedes to it.

Whitnell now getting ridiculous, says the letter says there “may” be a debt created, so he felt that was sufficient.
Clearly it isn’t, any recipient could see the figures & think they are probably correct so they won’t respond, then a RoboDebt is created using income averaging?

Whitnell making out as though he doesn’t understand now, or didn’t understand back then.

What a joke he is. This is embarrassing.

Commissioner Holmes having to explain the details of this initial letter to Whitnell as though he is a baby.

Whitnell keeps saying he doesn’t understand. He is stunned. Holmes scathing.
Whitnell concedes, saying he doesn’t know how he didn’t pick it up clear errors. Wow.

He is now pleading, saying he definitely had no “intent” to mislead.

Commissioner Holmes scathing

Whitnell “I can’t explain how I missed that I’m sorry”

Holmes gives a death stare.

Now onto the brief that went to cabinet, Whitnell says he discussed it with Golightly & pins it on her for approving it.

Scott KC suggests Whitnell himself told her to keep details of the Pilot hidden. Whitnell denies, but insists he can’t recall the brief or the meeting.

They now move to a Jan 2017 email with Whitnell included.
The email stipulates that PAYG data from ATO will be used and where a recipient does not respond, an algorithm is used to create a debt.
“That’s your words Mr Whitnell”
Whitnell: “That’s not actually my words”

Whitnell says it is Karen Harfield’s words, not his.

Commissioner: “But you seem to have adopted them?”

Whitnell shaking, waffles, blames Golightly, waffles more, & says it was “difficult to change” the words (to make them accurate). Wtf.

Scott KC getting heavy too now, demands to know if this was not the process Whitnell was aware of, then why did he use the words to the effect of the process? (Debts on people who don’t respond).

Whitnell says was busy, didn’t notice, was recently on leave, petty, petty excuses

I’ll take a break, please follow on with the other good tweeters. I’ll be back v soon.

PS Last thing I heard Whitnell say is
“I have absolutely no idea”

I didn’t even catch what it was about but damn, can we employ senior PS who have a brain in future?
Back soon

Will just squeeze this in, as I’m sure its of interest to some.

At his previous hearing, Mark Whitnell said he couldn’t recall clear, obvious stuff.
His excuse was “At times my brain shuts down” 🤔