Debt waiver requirements and administration standards for social security and student assistance payments
Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Responding to Robodebt) Bill 2025
Independent Bill1st House
2nd House
Law
Introduced by: Andrew Wilkie (IND)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Secretary must waive debts caused solely by Commonwealth administrative errors.
The government cannot start legal action to recover overpayments after 6 years.
The Secretary must use plain language and avoid shaming people when administering payments.
Automated decisions must include a written notice explaining the automation and how to seek a review.
A person must review computer-generated decisions before they take effect if they cancel a benefit or raise a debt of $2,000 or more.
The Minister must order an independent review of compliance activity every 12 months; the resulting report must be tabled in Parliament.
The criteria for waiving debt due to family violence now include whether a person acted 'knowingly and willingly'.