Royal Commission

Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme

Advised and appeared for the Commonwealth of Australia, leading a team of 9 junior counsel, instructed by the Australian Government Solicitor, supported by Clayton Utz (Services Australia), Minter Ellison (Department of Social Services) and Ashurst (Australian Taxation Office).

Public hearings were held in Brisbane, Queensland between 31 October - 11 November 2022; 5 - 16 December 2022; 23 January - 3 February 2023; and 20 February - 10 March 2023.

The Royal Commissioner, the Hon. Catherine Holmes SC (former Chief Justice of Queensland), delivered her report to the Governor-General on 7 July 2023.

The Robodebt Scheme was a method of automated debt assessment and recovery implemented as part of he Australian Government’s Centrelink payment compliance program. The Scheme aimed to replace the formerly manual system of calculating overpayments and issuing debt notices to welfare recipients with an automated data-matching system that compared Centrelink records with averaged income data from the Australian Taxation Office.

The Scheme had been the subject of an investigation by the Commonwealth Ombudsman, two Senate committee inquiries and several legal challenges. Ultimately, the Federal Court declared the Scheme unlawful and approved a A$1.8 billion settlement including repayments of debts paid, wiping of outstanding debts, and legal costs.

https://robodebt.royalcommission.gov.au

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Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements

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Appeared as Senior Counsel Assisting, instructed by King & Wood Mallesons.

The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements was established in response to the extreme bushfire season of 2019-20 which resulted in loss of life, property and wildlife and environmental destruction.

Public hearings were conducted using remote hearing technology during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, involving over 300 witness appearances and thousands of exhibits and public submissions.

naturaldisaster.royalcommission.gov.au

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Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety

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This Commonwealth Royal Commission was established on 8 October 2018 in response to questions about the quality of aged care in Australia highlighted by the ABC TV’s 4 Corners program “Who Cares?”.

The Commissioners began their investigations by seeking from major Approved Providers detailed responses to extensive questions raised by the Terms of Reference, subsequently conducting hearings and case studies on a wide range of issues.

The Commissioners delivered an interim report on 31 October 2019, a special report on COVID-19 and aged care on 1 October 2020, and a final report on 26 February 2021.

Ms Hogan-Doran SC acted for:

  • Garden View Aged Care, instructed by Sparke Helmore in Sydney Hearing 1 - Dementia and Residential Care: Use of Physical and Chemical Restraints Case Study (March 2019)

  • Anglican Care, instructed by Hall & Wilcox, in Mildura Hearing - Carers for Older Australians (July 2019)

  • AMP Capital, instructed by Hall & Wilcox, in Sydney Hearing 5 - Funding, Financing and Prudential Regulation (September 2020)

  • Anglican Care, instructed by Hall & Wilcox (re ABC TV and Written Response of Approved Providers, January 2019)

  • Catholic Healthcare, instructed by Moray & Agnew (Written Response, January 2019)

  • RSL LifeCare, instructed by Clayton Utz (Written Response, January 2019)

  • United Protestants Assn of NSW, instructed by Hall & Wilcox (Written Response, January 2019)

  • Aegis Aged Care Group (WA), instructed by Hall & Wilcox (Written Response, January 2019)

https://agedcare.royalcommission.gov.au

Contact Clerk (Sarah Tiffen): Email: clerk@5wentworth.com Phone: +61 2 8066 6111 Urgent Assistance: +61 416 697 853