Tom Studans Profile picture
Welfare advocate, live coverage #RobodebtRC, 3x Primetime Emmy winner. 2Pac alive in Latvia. Campaign/comms support/teach you guitar etc hire my ass
πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ˜·πŸ˜·πŸ˜·πŸ˜· Warwick Tweedie Profile picture Tom Studans Profile picture πŸ’§agile88 Profile picture 3 subscribed
Sep 27, 2023 β€’ 19 tweets β€’ 4 min read
There's a simple reason every study of Mutual Obligations finds they're not just ineffective at getting people into work, but make things worse β€” they are hostile political architecture designed to scare people out of claiming benefits.

That's all that can be observed of them. There's a clear requirement for some form of obligatory contact with government to facilitate proper administration of payments. For unemployment benefits, it's not unreasonable that eligibility relate to being out of work, and searching for work.

That is a separate concept.
Mar 14, 2023 β€’ 4 tweets β€’ 1 min read
Most of these companies don't even have a system to investigate legally-significant complaints against their staff. Accountability and compliance (for thee). The Department of Employment's 'complaints' service is, you guessed it, contracted out to a job provider. Until recently, it used to be an external EAP/support company. The Government can't even engage the private sector to enact these insane policies in a way that isn't corrupt.
Mar 11, 2023 β€’ 4 tweets β€’ 2 min read
Completely agree. Matthew Thompson gave evidence that Centrelink are still pursuing his Robodebt.

There's all kinds of rank, unlawful behaviour going on, you don't have to wait for a Royal Commission report to do the right thing and suspend the compliance system.

#RobodebtRC @billshortenmp I can explain this to you with memes if you're finding it difficult to comprehend.

#RobodebtRC
Mar 9, 2023 β€’ 213 tweets β€’ >60 min read
The Final Day. ImageImage Here's the stream to watch the final day of public hearings for the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme:

#RobodebtRC

robodebt.royalcommission.gov.au
Mar 8, 2023 β€’ 130 tweets β€’ 47 min read
Here's the stream. Angus Scott KC explaining a former Ombudsman, McMillan, has produced a statement for them this week:

#RobodebtRC

robodebt.royalcommission.gov.au
Mar 8, 2023 β€’ 147 tweets β€’ 54 min read
Here is the stream for today.

We're currently hearing from Dr Elea Wurth of Deloitte, who have been commissioned by the Commission to produce a technical study of the Robodebt Scheme.

#RobodebtRC

robodebt.royalcommission.gov.au
Mar 6, 2023 β€’ 199 tweets β€’ 71 min read
The Royal Commission is now in session. Here is the stream for today:

#RobodebtRC

robodebt.royalcommission.gov.au
Mar 5, 2023 β€’ 165 tweets β€’ 62 min read
Mar 2, 2023 β€’ 203 tweets β€’ >60 min read
Mar 1, 2023 β€’ 51 tweets β€’ 20 min read
Feb 28, 2023 β€’ 190 tweets β€’ 69 min read
One update - today's first witness will be an affected Centrelink recipient.

#RobodebtRC
Feb 27, 2023 β€’ 195 tweets β€’ 73 min read
Today's witnesses. Keenan is the Minister for why we didn't hear anything out of the Government for two years.

#RobodebtRC
Feb 26, 2023 β€’ 229 tweets β€’ >60 min read
Morton ImageImage Christopher Birrer will be dealt with in a later week. The witness list will proceed today as outlined.

Looking for why advice wasn't progressed to the Australian Government Solicitor.

#RobodebtRC Image
Feb 26, 2023 β€’ 4 tweets β€’ 3 min read
Some questionable decisions being made by ABC management around the country regarding their #RobodebtRC coverage.

While the QLD newsroom has been very diligent and had their stories run early in the 7pm bulletins up here, this has NOT been the case in Sydney and Melbourne. In fact, they've often not run those reports at all. Without even descending into the absence of broader discussion or longer-form journalism across the network, that's unacceptable.

It's obviously not just a QLD story...

#RobodebtRC
Feb 25, 2023 β€’ 4 tweets β€’ 2 min read
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abc.net.au/news/2023-02-2…
Feb 25, 2023 β€’ 4 tweets β€’ 2 min read
I wonder if Twitter can help me - an important aspect of my #RobodebtRC coverage is reporting to community outlets.

I've been doing this for outlets in Sydney and Melbourne, but haven't had the capacity to organise it recently due to life circumstances. I've just emailed @4zzzradio as they're up the road from where I'm staying.

I'm in Brisbane until the hearings conclude 10 March, so capacity to do things here in-person.

If you're a community or other media outlet who would like a #RobodebtRC report, get around me.
Feb 23, 2023 β€’ 223 tweets β€’ >60 min read
Friday morning. ImageImage Mark Withnell has returned to complete his evidence. Counsel Assisting Angus Scott KC is questioning him.

He's the former General Manager, Business Integrity at DHS.

The stream for today:

#RobodebtRC

robodebt.royalcommission.gov.au
Feb 22, 2023 β€’ 254 tweets β€’ >60 min read
Today's witnesses. I'm informed Mr. Roser will be first, they were trying to get to him yesterday. Lawyers who think they're managers, managers who think they're lawyers. Ryman and Britton return for some more latterly-informed questioning.

#RobodebtRC
Feb 21, 2023 β€’ 32 tweets β€’ 13 min read
BLAKE: When I first started then, it was all about getting it right, importance to follow all steps.

MARSH: What was the shift when the Robodebt scheme began.

B: A complete shift.

M: Did you like your job when you started as a compliance officer?

B: Yes, proudly.

#RobodebtRC MARSH: What's your view of what it means to be a public servant?

BLACK : Serving the public, and doing what's right by the public, for the public. I worked in the Mornington office, with experienced colleagues all there for 30 years or more.

#RobodebtRC
Feb 20, 2023 β€’ 176 tweets β€’ 64 min read
Good morning. I arrived a few minutes earlier today. This meant I ran into the amazing @JennyMi11374978 in the hotel lobby. So wonderful to get to thank her personally for her evidence yesterday.

#RobodebtRC
Feb 20, 2023 β€’ 4 tweets β€’ 3 min read
Fantastic to see @abcnews giving the #RobodebtRC such prominence in their nightly bulletin once again, second national story in the running order. Their bulletin pieces have been uploaded pretty diligently to the @abcnews YouTube, so imagine that will follow.

One thing you can be sure of is the amount of free advice I'll be giving everyone in the media room for the next three weeks 😌

#RobodebtRC