Lawyers Weekly Australia reports..
Additional Robodebt class action payout details revealed
Gordon Legal is seeking to get $16 million of the $112 million government payout to victims of Centrelink’s Robodebt program, as more details have been revealed about how the money will be divided among victims.
A letter sent to members of the group represented in the class action detailed just who may be paid some of that $112 million, but the settlement still needs to be approved by the court at a hearing in May.
The government agreed to pay the $112 million in compensation on top of the $721 million it will pay in unlawfully raised debts as part of a settlement agreement with Gordon Legal, which is representing the victims.
“If the settlement is approved by the Court, $112 million will be made available to be paid to eligible group members, less an amount to be deducted for the Applicants’ reasonable legal costs (as approved by the Court) in bringing the proceeding and to pay Gordon Legal for performing its functions under the Settlement Distribution Scheme,” the letter stated.
Gordon Legal had previously stated it hoped to finish distributing the $720 million of Robodebt repayments by the end of 2021, but the settlement will go through various stages.
The members of the group have been divided into four categories, with only two types of victims to receive part of the $112 million.
