When I had a debt raised against me, I appealed. The response was ‘sucks to be you’ (and that’s basically a quote from the follow up phone call I made).
I worked my ring off (as a single parent of a disabled person) to pay off the debt, which then resulted in a tax debt the following year. Again, sucked to be me.
The RC, your reporting and your book are the wave I need to feel less buggered by a system that forgot it was established to support actual humans.
And I can’t thank you enough for being that voice.
If you ever feel the need to eviscerate yourself again, the clinically vulnerable in this ‘post Covid’ world have some stories to tell…
OMG Rick! That faux-Rick could surely never come near your huge brain capacity anyway. I am gobsmacked by your ability to take in, remember, synthesize and re-present as understandable (to plebs like me) the most complex and nuanced of government trickery.
Thankyou as always for being that person.
“The Witness” in a way.
You absolutely fulfill your role and obligation of the “Fourth Estate”.
I would have left Leon alone, to be fair, but the statement sent me over the edge. It was just flat out demonstrably wrong in places and the band of supporters so keen to undermine an investigation that actually happened (as opposed to one that didn't at the NACC) made me see red.
And Campbell's dumping of the problem in Finn Pratt's (DSS Secretary and her predecessor in that department) is egregious. That woman has no shame.
As for Leon, she's just circling the wagons the way the APS does so effectively: deny, talk about accountability when they have been anything but, and completely ignore the fact that the Secretary of the Department is expected to know what is going on!
Bravo! The possibility of the scheme’s illegality, of which Campbell and Leon were separately made aware, should have galvanised them into immediate action. (Even if nothing prior did). Well done on teasing out the sleight of hand in Leon’s comments.
Your work on the RC was amazing. I followed your twitter feed and watched a lot of it live. I'm still amazed how you comprehended the absolute skulduggery while those PS workers (or I prefer POS's) did double flips with pike. But it didn't get past you, or the wonderful Catherine Holmes, Justin Greggery and Angus Taylor. I am beyond disappointed that the NAAC decision lets these despicable people off the hook. It's a blight on all, unfortunately including the very few good guys who tried so hard to stop it.
Gosh and there was me thinking we were getting a jolly little newsletter with some giggles about Richard and Rick walking up a hill…… glad you are here to right all the robodebt wrongs!
What are the chances that the other Rick ordering coffee was in fact the person who ascended Red Hill with *our* Rick, formerly referred to as Richard? Also not that bad, but perhaps slightly longer!
"gormless procedural literalism" 😂 I continue to wonder why these senior public servants are paid their high salaries, but could not or chose not to see the evil AND illegality of raising debts on averaging. I'm sure they tell themselves *gormless* excuses so they can sleep at night.
mnn? Kathryn Campbell is Morrison to Leon's Albanese was my first thought. Though Leon is more like Morrison in her arse covering and I am not responsible for my lack of action. Maybe it is like people resembling their dogs. SES resemble their Ministers.
Thanks, Rick. You are a wonderful champion for those Robodebted.
And that bloke Richard? He could have called himself Dick. I co own my house with a bloke called Ryk, and my next door neighbour is called Ric. And today I was given the first new nickname in decades. Judels! Love it!
He can continue to expose them, and the subsequent coverup that is happening, and his work is vitally important, but he can’t right the wrongs. The tragedies caused by these politicians and their lackeys have not been remedied and in some cases cannot be remedied. There should be another report to the NACC.
OK, thank you for noticing this because I spent more than a few minutes deliberating over precisely where in the newsletter it should be placed and settled on the version you have for very excellent reasons you've intuited. Now that IS rewarding!
My ex husb was a Rick - but spelt with a silent ‘P’
🤣👍🏼
When I had a debt raised against me, I appealed. The response was ‘sucks to be you’ (and that’s basically a quote from the follow up phone call I made).
I worked my ring off (as a single parent of a disabled person) to pay off the debt, which then resulted in a tax debt the following year. Again, sucked to be me.
The RC, your reporting and your book are the wave I need to feel less buggered by a system that forgot it was established to support actual humans.
And I can’t thank you enough for being that voice.
If you ever feel the need to eviscerate yourself again, the clinically vulnerable in this ‘post Covid’ world have some stories to tell…
OMG Rick! That faux-Rick could surely never come near your huge brain capacity anyway. I am gobsmacked by your ability to take in, remember, synthesize and re-present as understandable (to plebs like me) the most complex and nuanced of government trickery.
Thankyou as always for being that person.
“The Witness” in a way.
You absolutely fulfill your role and obligation of the “Fourth Estate”.
I am in awe. 🌟
🙏🏼
This is very kind, and I am grateful you posted it. I realised through this process that this is one thing I truly believe I am good at!
I am glad you acknowledge this 👍🏼🌟☺️
Thank you for continuting to expose the miserable attempts to underplay the serious failures of these most senior public servants.
I would have left Leon alone, to be fair, but the statement sent me over the edge. It was just flat out demonstrably wrong in places and the band of supporters so keen to undermine an investigation that actually happened (as opposed to one that didn't at the NACC) made me see red.
And Campbell's dumping of the problem in Finn Pratt's (DSS Secretary and her predecessor in that department) is egregious. That woman has no shame.
As for Leon, she's just circling the wagons the way the APS does so effectively: deny, talk about accountability when they have been anything but, and completely ignore the fact that the Secretary of the Department is expected to know what is going on!
Bravo! The possibility of the scheme’s illegality, of which Campbell and Leon were separately made aware, should have galvanised them into immediate action. (Even if nothing prior did). Well done on teasing out the sleight of hand in Leon’s comments.
Thanks for your untiring work on Robodebt, Rick. Much more important than scaling Red Hill breathlessly.
Now that you mention it, are they not the same thing?
Thank you for the clear explanation regarding the actions of Renee Leon. Brilliant as always.
Leon is the archetypal APS rationaliser.
On a lighter note, he would be a Rich or Richie, but never, NEVER, a Rick!
Your work on the RC was amazing. I followed your twitter feed and watched a lot of it live. I'm still amazed how you comprehended the absolute skulduggery while those PS workers (or I prefer POS's) did double flips with pike. But it didn't get past you, or the wonderful Catherine Holmes, Justin Greggery and Angus Taylor. I am beyond disappointed that the NAAC decision lets these despicable people off the hook. It's a blight on all, unfortunately including the very few good guys who tried so hard to stop it.
Chris, this is such a lovely comment and means a lot. Thank you.
Gosh and there was me thinking we were getting a jolly little newsletter with some giggles about Richard and Rick walking up a hill…… glad you are here to right all the robodebt wrongs!
I contain multitudes!
What are the chances that the other Rick ordering coffee was in fact the person who ascended Red Hill with *our* Rick, formerly referred to as Richard? Also not that bad, but perhaps slightly longer!
"gormless procedural literalism" 😂 I continue to wonder why these senior public servants are paid their high salaries, but could not or chose not to see the evil AND illegality of raising debts on averaging. I'm sure they tell themselves *gormless* excuses so they can sleep at night.
mnn? Kathryn Campbell is Morrison to Leon's Albanese was my first thought. Though Leon is more like Morrison in her arse covering and I am not responsible for my lack of action. Maybe it is like people resembling their dogs. SES resemble their Ministers.
Thanks, Rick. You are a wonderful champion for those Robodebted.
And that bloke Richard? He could have called himself Dick. I co own my house with a bloke called Ryk, and my next door neighbour is called Ric. And today I was given the first new nickname in decades. Judels! Love it!
The weasel words those two used to justify their actions is appalling. 'I've told myself that, so it must be true'.
He can continue to expose them, and the subsequent coverup that is happening, and his work is vitally important, but he can’t right the wrongs. The tragedies caused by these politicians and their lackeys have not been remedied and in some cases cannot be remedied. There should be another report to the NACC.
Perfectly placed Hyacinth Bucket.
OK, thank you for noticing this because I spent more than a few minutes deliberating over precisely where in the newsletter it should be placed and settled on the version you have for very excellent reasons you've intuited. Now that IS rewarding!
Very clear and thorough explanation of why it all matters so much. Thanks Rick