ACOSS is demanding the urgent removal of the whole Targeted Compliance Framework due to shocking revelations of massive Government failure and potential illegality in the administration of income support payments affecting tens of thousands of people.
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has today revealed it has paused several additional penalty measures under the TCF due to serious legal and operational failures impacting over 10,000 people. This follows previous decisions by the DEWR Secretary to pause a number of other penalty measures. The new administrative failures identified affect over ten times as many people as previously known and call into sharp question the legality of the entire system.
The Targeted Compliance Framework, introduced in 2018, sets out the penalty system for people who do not meet their mutual obligations, including payment suspensions and cancellations.
The Minister has admitted that this system, established under the Coalition in 2018,is punitive and has stated that he wants to overhaul it. Yet, when faced with widespread and growing issues with legality dating back to 2018 and affecting tens of thousands of people on low incomes, he is choosing to continue operating the broader system and risks harming yet more people.
“This is a massive and fundamental failure of government, overseen by multiple Ministers from both Coalition and Labor Governments over the last seven years,” ACOSS Executive Director of Policy and Research, Jacqueline Phillips said.
“Now we know that at least 10,000 people may have been subjected to unlawful or invalid financial penalties or payment cancellations.
“The department has effectively admitted the Targeted Compliance Framework may have been operating outside the law in some areas for years, causing significant harm to people living on poverty payments.
“People on the lowest incomes in our society have had their vital income support payments removed for a month or more without due legal process, with no recourse or compensation. It is very disturbing that in the aftermath of Robodebt, governments continue to make unlawful social security decisions on such a scale affecting people with little means or power.
“The government must immediately remove the entire Targeted Compliance Framework, including payment suspensions, provide full back-pay and compensation to every person affected, and conduct a fully independent legal and human rights review.
“ACOSS has consistently opposed the Targeted Compliance Framework since its introduction in 2018 under the Coalition and has issued warning after warning about the serious harm it causes.”
ACOSS made a complaint about the Federal Government’s administration of the framework to the Ombudsman in December 2024, who is currently investigating whether payment cancellations under the TCF are lawful, fair and reasonable.
Contact details:
Lauren Ferri: 0422 581 506