A photographer who had a heart attack after being issued with an erroneous Robodebt bill of more than $11,000 says he was made to feel like a criminal.
Key points:
- Matthew Thompson told the inquiry he "couldn't live" without Centrelink payments
- Mr Thompson said in his evidence that he had a heart attack after he was issued with Robodebt notices
- The current block of hearings in Brisbane is scheduled to run until March 10
Hobart news photographer Matthew Thompson gave evidence in Brisbane on Wednesday at the royal commission into the unlawful scheme put in place by the former Coalition government.
The 50-year-old told the inquiry he had been taking photos of others affected by the scheme when he received his own debt notice.
"It made me feel like a criminal and a cheat," he said.
"It really messed me up.
"I really struggle with the way that politicians talk about people like me, it makes me feel like a welfare cheat."
He told the commission he has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, anxiety and bipolar and has had several inpatient stays throughout his life.
Mr Thompson described not being able to work too much because it caused him anxiety and noted if he did overdo it, it caused him to drink to "feel human".
Mr Thompson said he worked different hours at the newspaper each week depending on how he was going with his mental health.
During 2011 and 2015, he supplemented his income with Centrelink payments when he was too unwell to work, the royal commission was told.
He explained he "couldn't live" without a Centrelink payment.
"I would have to sell up the block of land, which is everything to me. It's stopping me living in poverty when I get older," Mr Thompson said.
"I put everything into it. I don't even want to think about it, to be honest."
'It has taken years off my life'
Mr Thompson described dealing with Centrelink as a "full-time" job and said he would only phone them at the end of the day when he had taken his medication so he was able to deal with the "bad news they had to give me".
He told the inquiry he had been keeping abreast of the royal commission and hoped it could make a change, which was why he wanted to give evidence.
"I don't like to kick a man when he's down but watching Scott Morrison [give evidence in the Robodebt royal commission] … that night I was so furious and wound up," Mr Thompson said.
"I've taken his photo and on the other hand I'm taking photos of a single mum who is struggling with her Robodebt and that drove me to make this submission."
Mr Thompson ended his evidence by making several remarks from his statement, saying he had a heart attack after being issued with the debts.
"It has taken years off my life," the photographer said.
He said seeing former ministers address the inquiry had been frustrating.
"The ministers who gave evidence were referred to as: 'The Honourable' but given what they said or did I don't think they are honourable and I don't think they deserve to be called 'honourable'," Mr Thompson said.
"They were the architects of the scheme which has caused so much pain to so many people and which has caused some people to lose their lives.
"It seems to me that powerful people are always able to take advantage of vulnerable people as the gap between rich and poor increases still and no matter how many royal commissions that we have that always seems to be the case."
'We accepted averaging was lawful'
Former chief counsel at the Department of Human Services (DHS) told the inquiry her team had an "entrenched" view the scheme was lawful so did not look into criticisms any further.
Annette Musolino said the legal team often advocated for "the department's position rather than one found in law", and this was also true with Robodebt.
"I reflect now a lot of what I see is us advocating what's become that entrenched departmental position and perhaps not doing enough to go back to basics when this [the unlawfulness of Robodebt] is being raised," Ms Musolino said.
She was later asked by Commissioner Catherine Holmes SC why she never referred to legislation that would show income averaging was unlawful in legal advice that she sent to the head of the department.
"I think we stopped looking at that question," Ms Musolino replied.
"I think we accepted that averaging was lawful."
Commissioner Holmes replied: "I don't know that you stopped looking for it, I don't know if you ever started."
"I accept that," Ms Musolino said.
The inquiry continues.