About the Royal Commission

The Royal Commissioner was Ms Catherine Holmes AC SC.

The Letters Patent set out the Royal Commissioner’s terms of reference.

The Robodebt Royal Commission was established on 18 August 2022 to enquire into the establishment, design and implementation of the Robodebt scheme; the use of third-party debt collectors under the Robodebt scheme; concerns raised following the implementation of the Robodebt scheme; and the intended or actual outcomes of the Robodebt scheme.

On 16 February 2023, the Attorney-General announced that the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme had been granted a brief extension to its reporting date. The terms of reference for the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme were amended to extend the reporting date from 18 April 2023 to 30 June 2023. On 11 May 2023, the Royal Commission’s reporting date was extended to 7 July 2023.

In the conduct of its enquiry, the Commission conducted 46 days of hearings, with appearances by more than 100 witnesses. 

The Commission’s report was delivered on 7 July 2023.