‘You’re denying what you did to my son’: mother of robodebt victim told she is ineligible for compensation
News Source
•Sun, 04 Oct 2026 14:00:32 GMT
📰 What Happened
Kath Madgwick's son Jarrad was 22 when he died by suicide in 2019. He had been told by Centrelink he owed nearly $2,000.
Now government lawyers say Madgwick is not eligible for a $475 million class action payout. They argue Jarrad only got a provisional debt notice through the MyGov portal, not an official one.
🔍 The Backstory
Robodebt was a scheme that chased welfare debts using computer estimates. A royal commission found it was unlawful and cruel, and it highlighted Jarrad's case.
Last year the government agreed to pay $475 million to about 450,000 victims. Payments start in December. Madgwick says she will keep fighting for justice.
🎯 Why It Matters
It asks whether victims of a failed government scheme are treated fairly, and whether families get the support they were promised.
Kath Madgwick's son Jarrad was 22 when he died by suicide in 2019. He had been told by Centrelink he owed nearly $2,000.
Now government lawyers say Madgwick is not eligible for a $475 million class action payout. They argue Jarrad only got a provisional debt notice through the MyGov portal, not an official one.
Robodebt was a scheme that chased welfare debts using computer estimates. A royal commission found it was unlawful and cruel, and it highlighted Jarrad's case.
Last year the government agreed to pay $475 million to about 450,000 victims. Payments start in December. Madgwick says she will keep fighting for justice.
It asks whether victims of a failed government scheme are treated fairly, and whether families get the support they were promised.