I have just become a qualified lawyer at the end of 2017 and to hear that I owe a debt of almost $4K has really upset me.
This has increased my stress levels, I feel very depressed and anxious that I have done something wrong even though I have worked all my life to become a representative of the law. I genuinely believed I have complied with the law to the best of my ability.
When I was a carer, I reported my income to Centrelink every fortnight and if I ever worked over 50 hours a fortnight, my payment would be deducted accordingly.
When I asked for why this debt is owed, the only answer I was given is that the pay slips do not match up with my reporting.
Now I am scarred that this will damage my reputation and career, even though I reported my income to Centrelink every fortnight.
I am very disappointed as I read all of these stories and to find that the government has decided to punish Australians years later when they might not be able to afford to pay back this money.
I among these citizens have a debt of almost $60K to HECS and with today's extreme living standards, we can simply not afford to have such a hefty debt coming out of nowhere.
My case manager, Alex, from Centrelink was initially very helpful when I first received the letter asking me to send my payslips, but as soon as I received the debt letter, she has gone completely AWOL and I am disgusted with the behaviour of Centrelink and the process of trying to get a hold of someone.
Anyone who works full-time can only call during their lunch break and by the time I get a hold of someone, my lunch break is over.
Surely, this disgraceful behaviour cannot be allowed to continue.
There needs to be a more transparent system where our concerns are heard and the people of Australia treated fairly.