Many hours and days were wasted trying to resolve this error that was caused by a 'computer glitch' ha ha, where my youngest child's initial entry to Australia (permanent resident visa) had been overlooked in the system and suddenly, all these years later we were being asked to repay family tax benefit for this period of time stated above. We had been living in Australia all these years and the payments were fully valid as a family working and contributing to the Australian government taxation system etc. We were told repeatedly that it was a glitch and it was being escalated to the department that would rectify it. Next thing we received a letter saying it had been handed over to a debt collecting agency. Only when my husband got extremely irate was the issue resolved during a phone call when he read details from our child's initial passport to a customer service representative. If he hadn't been so stubborn and persistent we would now be paying back this fabricated debt.
I am absolutely disgusted that honest people are being treated so appallingly by this government department and not holding themselves accountable for their incompetence. Our story ended well with the debt being reversed but we never once received and explanation or apology for the error. We were so stressed out about the whole situation and frustrated is an understatement when being shuffled around the centrelink phone network, often being cut off after waiting two hours to speak to someone.
Hearing now that innocent citizens of a governments incompetence are feeling suicidal and not just a few people but thousands, is beyond comprehension. I feel so damned angry about this and it would certainly be something that would affect my voting preferences right now. I would even get involved in campaigning against this injustice right now.
Remember who puts you in power politicians. I am an average citizen who is totally furious right now and ready to defend the most vulnerable and marginalised members of our society, so watch out!!!!