#RobodebtRC Former DHS Gen. Manager Mark Whitnell insists he didn’t realise the letters sent to recipients didn’t warn them that their income would averaged.
Angus Scott sets him up with hard propositions only for Commissioner to knock him down 🤕🔥
Mark Whitnell appeared very shaky & frightened in his evidence today.
It only makes me angry. Pretty pissed off to see this shmuck refuse to accept responsibility, say he was busy, say he can’t recall, point the finger.
Commissioner didn’t let him off tho👍 #IRemember
Finishing his testimony, Commissioner asks who he would say was most in charge of the scheme going ahead.
Of course Whitnell blames deceased Malisa Golightly. Says she was difficult and the key decision maker. Nobody else. Ffs.
Now Vic Legal Aid Reps give evidence. Greggery asking the questions. Rowan McRae says from Jan 2017 they had a 500% increase in people seeking advice due to Robodebt.
This is after the LNP government had slashed funding to Legal Aid services sighting Labor’s Budget Crisis😒
Due to working on videos, I’ve missed most of the Vic Legal Aid hearings, and have some errands again. So I’ll cease the commentary for time being.
#RoboDebtRC
Evidence shows you signed this document?
MW: ‘Golightly made me do it’
Evidence shows Mr Ryman was the Project Manager?
MW: ‘Yes he was’
Evidence shows YOU were the Senior Responsible Officer?
MW: ‘Perhaps that’s what is written but it’s actually Golightly’
🙄🙄
I left the Ryman bit in there, to just show, any time they found someone ‘else’ responsible, he agreed, yes they are.
Any time he, in a much more senior position, was asked to take responsibility, he shifted blame to Golightly, or said he couldn’t recall.
And sorry for the deletion, it’s unlikely but at times these get picked up by the media so if it somehow ends up in an article, may as well make sure it’s accurate.
#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.
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.
Victorian Liberal & religious nutcase Moria Deeming’s reported speech after being elected into parliament:
“I did not win on merit, I did not win because I was popular in the party, I did not win by being a part of a faction. I won because God arranged it” 🤦♂️
Here we go again…
She also said in another speech that she is bringing in
“long term financial backers” (without naming who), for her party.
Church groups?
Opposition Leader Pesutto wouldn’t be drawn into it & insists
“She understands the importance of us working as a team”
John Pesutto who for some reason felt the need to label himself a “progressive & modern” leader to the journos, also said that the reason Moira Deeming remains a Vic Liberal is because the party encourages a
“voice for everyone”
Jason Ryman says its not his fault, was only following instructions from boss Scott Britton
Scott Britton then says its not his fault, was only following instructions from boss Mark Whitwell
Whitnell hearing might be a hot one🔥
Britton excused after a thumping finish by the commissioner. With Britton at the end claiming he was under impression there was no issues with using averaging.
And commissioner saying, but you knew, DSS advised you back in 2015.
Britton says that’s the part he can’t work out 🙄
As in, he says he can’t work out how after being advised by DSS of issues with averaging, how nothing was done about it.
#RobodebtRC Greggery suggests that with all the evidence we’ve seen it appears former DSS Dep Secretary Serena Wilson made the decision to mislead the Ombudsman by removing the 2014 legal advice. Wilson insists she can’t recall, but also can’t explain why anyone would. [1/2]
#RobodebtRC Greggery suggests Serena Wilson was “caught out” by the Ombudsman, & went on to deliberately hide the 2014 legal advice.
And that Wilson’s lack of recall is just a case of being “Dishonest”
A brutal end as Wilson rejects all assertions against her. [2/2]
And off I go to collect the kids.
Glad I could squeeze these clips out. They are frightening as Eric Banana suggests 😬
#RobodebtRC Greggery kicks off asking former DSS Secretary Serena Wilson about her interactions with Scott Morrison. Wilson concedes she “conflicted” with Morrison’s “rigour of policy development”. RRC now seeking more information on Morrison’s dealings at the time.
Whilst Wilson is being careful in her approach, she did name Scummo as being aware of legislative requirements for Robodebt before pressing ahead with the scheme, saying she was told this by Malisa Golightly. Greggery clearly wanting more.
Wilson was grilled in extraordinary fashion in her previous hearing, if you didn’t see it, see here