New Evidence Sparks Appeal Against $1.8bn Robodebt Settlement

In a twist to the Robodebt scandal, Gordon Legal announced on Tuesday that they would appeal against the $1.8 billion settlement with the commonwealth, alleging that officials knew the scheme was unlawful but proceeded with it. The lawyers intend to ask the court to set aside the original settlement, paving the way for new claims against the commonwealth for misfeasance in public office. 

This appeal hinges on new evidence uncovered by the royal commission last year, indicating the commonwealth's reliance on legally privileged advice. The evidence was not presented in the original class action lawsuit which they argue was settled without full disclosure.

Senior Partner at Gordon Legal, Peter Gordon, highlighted disturbing allegations of cover-ups, misrepresentations, and systemic dishonesty that prevented parties from understanding the extent of the wrongdoing. He also noted that the appeal process may take several months, depending on the court's decision on whether to reopen the case. 

High-ranking officials in the Department of Human Services responsible for the fraudulent scheme, including Kathryn Campbell, Malisa Golightly, and Mark Withnell, have been directly implicated by the royal commission. They face accusations of creating, implementing, and maintaining an unlawful program, deceiving the federal cabinet, and failing to act on information revealing the illegality of the scheme.

- CyberBeat