It was 2020 when the government first discovered that a glitch in its system was wrongfully cutting welfare recipients off from their payments.

Rather than fixing the error, the department did nothing for three years.

In that time, ten people died. Whether their deaths were the result of suicide or destitution after losing support, Services Australia won’t say.

Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton with his exclusive story about the ministers who failed to act on behalf of the vulnerable – and instead protected the interests of private companies.

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Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton

Photo: Credit: AAP Image / Darren England

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