If you got ripped off in the #Robodebt debacle, you can register for this new class action settlement. Registration for the settlement is closing 6th March, so make sure to do it now.

#auspol #centrelink

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/new-robodebt-class-action-settlement

Centrelink: Please choose your own misadventure.

To use our online system, go to centrelink.gov.au

When our online system fails to work, go to your local Centrelink office. Oh, wait, we closed that.

You could try phoning, if fighting your way through chatbot menus that want to store your phone number and voiceprint is your idea of a good time.

If you do defeat the chatbots, prepare for an hour wait (and counting) in the vain hope that a Real Human™️will answer the phone.

#Centrelink

Call centre operator that won major Centrelink contract paid no corporate tax for two years

The Perth-headquartered company, Telco Services Australia, generated more than $185m in revenue in 2024-25 but reported no taxable income, new financial documents show.

The year before, it reported $130m in income and also paid zero tax.

The two-year reporting period coincides with the company’s multi-year $90m-plus contract to run call centre operations for Services Australia, the agency responsible for social security.

"So, what's the problem?" (Moir, 26/12/25)
#auspol #ausnews #vicnews #moir #centrelink #robodebt #jobseeker

https://www.victoriannews.com.au/opinion/alan-moir/moirs-view-1416/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

WARNING - RANT
Why does #Centrelink demand I update a change in 14 days and its stupid system will not let me in to do the change?

Sends me in circles to same question then sends me to the end to swear I told the truth?

I couldn't tell you anything, you wouldn't let me, you daft besoms.

And I can only phone to get help or go in to their virtually inaccessible to people w walkers office in Belco.
Why is it sooooo hard to do the right thing?

ATO refers hundreds of thousands of taxpayers to a private debt collector – including people on Centrelink benefits
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/27/ato-tax-repayments-debt-collector

The ATO is handballing thousands of people to Recoveriescorp. This misstep by the ATO is going to have disastrous consequences, like we saw with RoboDebt.

Recoveriescorp is a debt collector that's funded by private equity.

The business-model for private equity is buy-up other companies. This buy-up generates a massive debt. Companies that get consumed by a private equity firm are usually saddled with that debt. But, the reason those companies were up for sale is they were in bad shape. Now they've gone from underperforming to being in existential crisis. Their primary motivation becomes making as much money as possible, as quickly as possible, and by any means possible. Recoveriescorp is desperate to make money, and will hit anyone to make a buck.

What kind of company is Recoveriescorp?

Follow the money!

Recoveriescorp is owned by Nutun Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, which is part of Dove Bidco Pty Ltd, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Allegro Funds Pty Ltd.

Clear as mud.

How about Allegro Funds?

Back in January 2023, news emerged that PwC had been leaking secret Australian Government tax plans to corporations for up to ten years. PwC had abused its position as consultants to the Australian Government. Additionally, PwC ran what appears to me is a sham investigation to cover-up their own dirty deeds. (For more info, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PwC_tax_scandal).

As the result of this scandal, PwC lost A$680 million, about 20% of its overall income.

To extricate itself from the disaster of its own making, PwC spun-off the part of its business responsible for the acursed "Government Services". That was in June 2023. (For more info, see https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-25/pwc-appoints-new-ceo-will-sell-off-government-business/102521482). The core of new company was 117 former PwC partners, then filled-out with more than 1,500 other PwC staff. It was named Scyne Advisory.

In November 2023, PwC sold Scyne Advisory to Allegro Funds for $1.

You read that right: one dollar.

Now Recoveriescorp, owned by Allegro Funds and haunted by the ghost of Scyne Advisory (née PwC), has a fresh deal with the Australian Taxation Office. The ATO hasn't learned anything from its past mistakes. They did a deal with Recoveriescorp to act as a debt collector and try to claw money from people on Centrelink.

#AusPol #RoboDebt #ATO #AustralianTaxationOffice #Centrelink #Recoveriescorp #PwC #ScyneAdvisory #AllegroFunds