Lawyers for victims say they will appeal against $1.8bn settlement, alleging officials ‘knew robodebt was unlawful but went ahead with it anyway’

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Lawyers of the victims of the robodebt scandal will appeal the $1.8bn settlement with the commonwealth on the basis of “damning new evidence” and claims senior public servants who administered the scheme engaged in “misfeasance in public office”.

Gordon Legal announced the move on Tuesday, explaining that it will allege that officials “knew that robodebt was unlawful, but went ahead with it anyway”.