Centrepay scandal: Labor to reform debit scheme to combat ‘predatory behaviour’

Review follows Guardian Australia investigation identifying deep and ongoing failures with voluntary bill-paying service for Centrelink recipients

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The Albanese government has pledged to reform the Centrepay debit system and has referred three energy companies to the regulator for using the system to wrongly take money from welfare recipients.

The announcement on Tuesday afternoon follows a Guardian Australia investigation identifying deep and ongoing failures with the Centrepay system, including its use by the major energy retailers AGL and Origin to wrongly take money from the welfare payments of former customers.

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