Years ago when my son was in primary school (~2008) I got my first $12000 debt that I've now repaid although I always reported my income and Centrelink said it was an overpayment. Last year I recieced my second debt of more than $14000 from another apparent overpayment (between 2014 & 2017) but yet I've always reported my income and even stopped receiving Centrelink benefits in 2017. The other day I got yet another debt of $10000 and this time the reason was that they were taking back all of the family payments they had given me in 2018-2019 financial year because I didn't put a tax return in...i began fostering 2 children in 2018 and was receiving family tax benefit for them.
I didn't know I could do anything about it as they told me at Centrelink that I had no choice but to pay them all! It's more than a years full time employment wage they have and are taking from me!!