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Luke Henriques-Gomes Profile picture
Luke Henriques-Gomes
@lukehgomes
former journalist. studying to become a high school teacher. ex social affairs editor at @guardianaus.
May 4, 2023 • 9 tweets • 3 min read
A massive congratulations to @terese_smfa, @ellaNbuckland, all the single mothers who bravely spoke out about their experiences and others who campaigned for years to end ParentsNext theguardian.com/australia-news… Some of the stories that emerged out of this program showed it often enabled the very worst parts of the welfare and employment services systems
Mar 10, 2023 • 98 tweets • 12 min read
Today is the last day of hearings for the #robodebtrc. The first witness is former Centrelink employee Taren Preston. Will tweet where I can!
Mar 8, 2023 • 11 tweets • 3 min read
Former ombudsman's office official Louise Macleod appears genuinely angry and shocked when shown some of the legal material DHS didn't provide to the watchdog during its 2017 investigation. Includes an email a DHS lawyer sent saying income averaging was a no go #robodebtrc Macleod: "To be honest, it annoys the hell out of me... That demonstrates ... they weren't participating in good faith."
Feb 28, 2023 • 141 tweets • 19 min read
Expecting a big day at the #robodebtrc today. The first witness is Renee Leon, who succeeded Kathryn Campbell as secretary of the Department of Human Services. Leon was in the top job when robodebt faced the ultimately successful landmark federal court challenge. We revealed recently how Leon wrote to the ombudsman telling it to remove recommendations questioning robodebt's legality from its 2019 report into the scheme. Those comments were cut from the public report after Leon's letter. theguardian.com/australia-news…
Feb 27, 2023 • 82 tweets • 10 min read
We're expecting the #robodebtrc to today focus on the crucial period 2017 when the robodebt scheme exploded into public view. This was widely acknowledged by previous witnesses as a "crisis" for the program. Mark Gladman, former deputy general counsel of the programme advice and privacy branch at the Department of Human Services, is the first witness at the #robodebtrc
Feb 23, 2023 • 177 tweets • 23 min read
Here is my thread for today's #robodebtrc hearings. The first witness is the former department of social services deputy secretary Serena Wilson. Wilson has previously accepted she breached the APS code of conduct in not stopping the robodebt scheme, saying she lacked "courage".
Feb 22, 2023 • 133 tweets • 17 min read
Today's first #robodebtrc witness is Matthew Roser, general counsel at the Department of Human Services Roser was involved with the FOI and information release team, working out of an office in Canberra. Her boss was Annette Musolino, and later, Tim Ffrench
Feb 21, 2023 • 98 tweets • 12 min read
The first witness at the robodebt commission today is Paul Menzies-McVey, former chief counsel, Department of Social Services. #robodebtrc Menzies-McVey was acting chief counsel in early 2017, replacing Annette Musolino.
Feb 20, 2023 • 113 tweets • 14 min read
Here we go: the first day of the fourth and final block of #robodebtrc hearings begins Justin Greggery KC tells the inquiry the hearings will look at "who knew what and when" about robodebt, and why "critical information was not communicated to decision makers".
Jan 23, 2023 • 45 tweets • 7 min read
The robodebt royal commission recommences today with hearing block three. Here are the witnesses we expect to hear from today. #robodebtrc Later in this block (next Weds and Thurs), we expect to hear from Alan Tudge and Christian Porter who were human services and social services minister when the scheme erupted in scandal in late 2016.
Dec 16, 2022 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
Robodebt victim, single mum and care worker Sandra Bevan says she thought about driving her car into a tree as she tried to get Centrelink off back over a robodebt. But, "My kids needed me, They'd already lost their dad..." Bevan: "I was trying my best to keep a roof over our head. I was working so hard and going into every shift trying to be cheerful and happy for my clients because I didn't want to lead on to them that this was happening to me."
Dec 15, 2022 • 8 tweets • 3 min read
The #robodebtrc continues today, and will take more important evidence about how this "shameful chapter" was written. First witness is Karen Harfield, a GM at Services Australia. Karen Harfield is the DHS GM who went to see Colleen Taylor in 2017 after she raised concerns. Taylor said on Tuesday she felt Harfield hadn't listened at all.
Dec 13, 2022 • 131 tweets • 17 min read
Scott Morrison appears at the royal commission into robodebt today. Here are some questions we think he'll be asked. theguardian.com/australia-news… #robodebtrc I'll be tweeting, but for a live take, the fabulous @AmyRemeikis will be blogging theguardian.com/australia-news…
Dec 4, 2022 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
The robodebt royal commission is back today, kicking off at 11am (AEDT). Before then, here's something I prepared earlier: theguardian.com/australia-news… #robodebtrc #auspol Justin Greggery KC, senior counsel assisting, is outlining what ground will be covered in hearing block two.
Nov 1, 2022 • 40 tweets • 5 min read
Day three at the #robodebtrc. I will tweet where I can here. We are expecting to hear from Anne Pulford, a lawyer at DSS, who was involved in the drafting of internal legal advice casting doubt on the scheme's legality in 2014. Subsequently she wrote different legal advice in 2017 suggesting the scheme could be considered legal.
Oct 31, 2022 • 32 tweets • 5 min read
And we're underway. Will tweet here when I can. #robodebtrc Justin Greggery KC, counsel assisting, says among documents obtained by the RC is legal advice from the solicitor general dated 24 September 2019 has been produced. Legal professional privilege has been waived.
Jun 21, 2021 • 19 tweets • 3 min read
Government lawyers telling AAT several robodebt "business case" documents sought by @jpwarren should be covered by cabinet confidentiality, others relate to "costings" - "financial information relating to a cost that would be incurred in implementing certain measures". Nothing on "algorithms", government lawyer says. But he flags in advance that the case could go to the federal court.
Jun 11, 2021 • 10 tweets • 2 min read
Justice Bernard Murphy beginning his judgement in the #robodebt class action. He says the evidence shows the Commonweatlth "unlawfully" raised $1.7bn in debts against 443,000 people. It pursued 381,000 people, recovering $751m, including through private debt collectors. #auspol Murphy says the case is a "shameful chapter" and a "massive failure" in public administration. He says it should have been "obvious" to senior public servants that the system was flawed.
Jun 9, 2021 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Sounds very much like the club made its position clear and Bucks saw the writing on the wall. A lot of passive language. Very sad he won't get a proper send off at the G.
Jun 8, 2021 • 6 tweets • 1 min read
FARK woweee theage.com.au/sport/afl/nath… “Sources said it was most likely Buckley would finish up after coaching the club against Melbourne on Queen’s Birthday but The Age has not confirmed whether that will be his last game.”
May 27, 2021 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
Exclusive: Report obtained under FOI shows the Coalition's disability employment reforms delivered a massive windfall to job agencies, but little benefit to jobseekers theguardian.com/australia-news… #auspol Internal documents reveal authorities were so concerned about the impact of the reforms it “locked down” its IT system to stop providers falsely claiming bonus payments for education course referrals