The mean spectre of Robodebt

September 23, 2025

Thank you to Michael Keating for his analysis of the basic flaws in Liberal strategy, raised by Sussan Ley, that too many Australians are dependent on government.

According to its website, the Liberal Party’s primary “belief” is in “the inalienable rights and freedoms of all peoples; and we work towards a lean government that minimises interference in our daily lives; and maximises individual and private sector initiative”.

The Australian Council of Social Service last week stated that the federal government “must substantially lift deeply inadequate income support payments. The routine indexation leaving 1.5 million people unable to afford basic essentials… the routine indexation of JobSeeker recently provided an extra $6.25 per week, bringing the payment to $401 for a single person, just 42% of the minimum wage.

“Around 1 million people will remain unable to afford essentials like food and medicine because Australia has one of the lowest unemployment payments among wealthy countries” (ACOSS CEO).

The hallmark of Liberal “lean government” ideology, Robodebt, is the mean spectre that hangs over Ley’s talk of less dependence on government.

Michael’s conclusion: an obvious and just source of revenue is a carbon tax. Most Australians would now see the sense in that.