Robodebt scandal explored in SBS docu-drama 'The People vs Robodebt'

One government. Almost half a million victims. Zero accountability... until now. The devastating human story behind one of the Australia’s greatest political scandals premieres on 24 September on SBS and SBS on Demand.

In 2019, Sandra Bevan received multiple letters and calls from Centrelink saying she had Robodebt, but the amount changed with every letter. Credit: Simon Morris.

'The People vs Robodebt' - A powerful new TV series by SBS

Powerful and unflinching, The People vs Robodebt is an emotionally charged political thriller which unravels the devastating human story behind one of Australia’s greatest political scandals. The full three-part docu-drama series will be available to stream on SBS on Demand on 24 September, airing weekly on SBS.

What was the Robodebt scheme?

In the long hot summer of 2016, the federal government's new Online Compliance Intervention scheme roared like a bushfire through Australian society. This automated welfare system soon became known as "Robodebt".

Over the next three years, almost half a million Australians were hounded to pay back debts they did not owe. The system was later found to be inaccurate, unethical and illegal. Some people lost their savings, their homes, their marriages and a few lost their lives.

How did such a “crude and cruel” error-riddled scheme ever get off the ground, let alone run for years?

Jenny Miller is the determined mum who fought to clear her son Rhys Cauzzo's name and stop Robodebt. Credit: Simon Morris.

Robodebt victims and the fight for justice

A brave handful of Australians witnessed what was happening and took a stand. In The People vs Robodebt many of these people tell their full story for the first time.

Using a potent combination of gripping documentary story-telling with high end drama, the series follows the tireless and heroic efforts of these extraordinary people who fought against the system: the Robodebt victims and their angry families, the crusading social media activists, the whistleblowers and investigative journalists, the tenacious lawyers, as well as the forgotten victims of Robodebt: the Centrelink workers who bravely battled the system from within - their complaints falling on deaf ears.

For Victoria Legal Aid, Deanna Amato was the golden ticket to help prove Robodebt was illegal. Credit: Simon Morris.

Key contributors to 'The People vs Robodebt'

The series has unparallelled access to the heroic people who took a stand against Robodebt. Key contributors include Jenny Miller, mother of Rhys Cauzzo, whose story was the first Robodebt suicide reported in the media; Deanna Amato, whose court case proved Robodebt was illegal; Felicity Button, one of the lead applicants in the class action against Robodebt; Sandra Bevan, who desperately tried to prove her innocence; Colleen Taylor, a veteran public servant who warned her superiors from the start that Robodebt was wrong; Jeannie-Marie Blake, a whistleblowing frontline Centrelink worker; Chris Knaus, the journalist who broke the first media stories about the flaws in the Robodebt scheme; Rachelle Miller, the insider and media adviser who worked to ‘control the narrative’ for the government; Lyndsey Jackson, who, on maternity leave with a newborn baby, started the #NotMyDebt website - fighting against the Robodebt scheme from her kitchen table; Asher Wolf (pseudonym), renowned digital activist and fellow instigator of #NotMyDebt; Dr Darren O’Donovan, one of Australia’s leading legal experts on Robodebt; Miles Browne and Charley Brumby-Rendell, the Victoria Legal Aid lawyers who defeated Robodebt in a legal battle against the government.

Robodebt: A story of betrayal and accountability

At its heart, The People vs Robodebt tells an extraordinary ‘David and Goliath’ tale of the people who risked everything in their fight to unravel the truth and find justice for half a million fellow Australians, versus a government and a bureaucracy who had “broken the sacred trust that when citizens give some of their power to the government, that the government will make sure that it helps, not hurts citizens”.

This is a story that the Royal Commissioner would later call “an extraordinary saga of venality, incompetence and cowardice” and Prime Minister Albanese called “a gross betrayal and a human tragedy.”

Frontline Centrelink worker Jeannie-Marie Baker dealt with multiple anxious customers, and raised concerns to her superiors about Robodebt. Credit: Simon Morris.

SBS on 'The People vs Robodebt'

SBS Commissioning Editor for Factual, Bethan Arwel-Lewis said: “As Australia’s boldest network, SBS has a track record of delivering documentaries that tackle some of the biggest issues of our times. The People vs Robodebt is a truly gripping watch, that tells the hidden story of one of Australia’s biggest political scandals and will have you on the edge of your seat. Audiences will be inspired, provoked and outraged in equal measure.”

Production team behind 'The People vs Robodebt'

The People vs Robodebt is produced by CJZ (Con Girl, Go Back to Where You Came From, Working Class Boy), one of Australia’s leading independent production companies. The idea was conceived by CJZ creative director and executive producer Michael Cordell (Go Back to Where You Came From, Bondi Rescue, Revolution School) and the supervising executive producer of the series is Paula Bycroft (Con Girl, Homicide with Ron Iddles, The Good Cop). Andrew Farrell (Working Class Boy, Murder in the Ouback) also executive produced. Ben Lawrence (Ithaca, Ghosthunter) directed both the drama and documentary scenes and Jane Allen (In Our Blood, Janet King, Troppo) wrote the drama scenes.

The People vs Robodebt executive producer Michael Cordell said “We are proud to be partnering with SBS on this groundbreaking series. SBS has never been afraid of bold storytelling and The People vs Robodebt is a shocking tale that goes to the very heart of inequality and social cohesion in Australia.”

“Our challenge as storytellers was to bring the Robodebt scandal alive by distilling a complex story to convey the profound pain and suffering this scheme inflicted on so many innocent people. Thanks to Screen Australia, Screen NSW and SBS for working with us to expose this shameful chapter in Australian history.”

Nurse Felicity Button was one of the lead applicants in the class action against Robodebt. Credit: Simon Morris.

The People vs Robodebt is a CJZ production for SBS. Major production investment from SBS and Screen Australia. Financed with support from Screen NSW.

How to watch 'The People vs Robodebt'

All 3 episodes of The People vs Robodebt will premiere on Wednesday 24 September on SBS On Demand.

Episodes air weekly on SBS from 7.30pm starting Wednesday 24 September. To access the SBS Guide please click here.