A Class Action That Helped the Lawyers More Than the Victims
If you’re thinking about dealing with Gordon Legal for anything Robodebt‑related, save yourself the disappointment. My experience with them has been nothing short of infuriating. After years of waiting, stress, and being told that victims would finally see justice, the only people who seem to have walked away with anything meaningful are the lawyers themselves.
The Robodebt Settlement Scheme was presented as a win for victims, but the reality is that thousands of people — myself included — were excluded on technicalities that Services Australia conveniently defined after the fact. Gordon Legal’s communication throughout this process has been vague, slow, and ultimately useless. When the final decision arrived, it was nothing more than a cold, generic rejection letter. No explanation, no advocacy, no support — just “you’re not eligible.”
Meanwhile, the firm collected millions in fees while many of the actual victims were left with nothing but frustration and wasted years. The whole process feels like a box‑ticking exercise where the lawyers got paid and the government got to quietly sidestep responsibility for countless people who were harmed.
If you’re expecting real advocacy, transparency, or meaningful support, look elsewhere. My experience has been that Gordon Legal benefited far more from the Robodebt class action than the people it was supposedly meant to help.
Reply from Gordon Legal
Hi Graham,
We’re sorry to hear how disappointed you are with your experience and the outcome you received. We understand that after a lengthy process, receiving an outcome you didn’t expect would be very frustrating.
Eligibility and Group Member categories were determined by the Commonwealth for the Settlement Distribution Scheme. Gordon Legal, as Scheme Administrator, could not change those determinations, except in limited circumstances for Category 4 Group Members seeking recategorisation. We recognise that this does not lessen the disappointment of the outcome you received.
You can find more information in the FAQs on our website: gordonlegal.com.au/robodebt-faqs
And support services, which can offer support, counselling and practical help, are available here: gordonlegal.com.au/robodebt-support
We appreciate you sharing your concerns. We will continue providing updates and responding to Group Member enquiries through our Robodebt phone, email, and online channels.
Gordon Legal