Editing Centrelink (section)

=== Origin ===
In 2016, Centrelink began using a new automated technique (later found to be fatally flawed and unlawful) for reconciling welfare recipients' records against data from the [[Australian Taxation Office]] (ATO) in order to allegedly uncover fraud and overpayment, thus facilitating the scrape-back of these alleged debts from clients. In January 2017, it was reported that the scheme was touted to save the government $300m and consideration was also being given to recovery action against Centrelink clients on both the Aged Pension and the Disability Support Pension, which allegedly could have raised {{AUD|1 billion}} in revenue.<ref name="controversial" /> In a process that had previously seen 20,000 debt recovery letters issued per year, this new automated data-matching technique, with less human oversight,<ref name="potential">{{cite news|last1=Belot|first1=Henry|title=Centrelink debt recovery: Government knew of potential problems with automated program|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-12/government-knew-of-potential-problems-with-centrelink-system/8177988|access-date=18 January 2017|work=ABC News|date=12 January 2017}}</ref> saw that number increase to 169,000 letters during July–December 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Anderson|first1=Stephanie|title=Centrelink debt recovery system failures have 'frightened' recipients, Andrew Wilkie says|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-04/centrelink-debt-recovery-system-designed-by-dunderhead-wilkie/8160990|access-date=18 January 2017|work=ABC News|date=5 January 2017}}</ref>