# Centrelink pursues debts more than 40 years old despite pledge to waive old arrears

https://mins.news/en/item/17120

- The Guardian, 2026-08-08 20:00 UTC
- Society
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/09/centrelink-pursuing-debts-that-are-more-than-40-years-old-despite-agreeing-to-waive-old-arrears

> Centrelink is seeking to recover unpaid debts worth $4.93bn, including amounts dating back more than four decades. The pursuit continues despite the government’s agreement to introduce a six-year limit on debt recovery. Advocates and legal organisations, including Economic Justice Australia, are calling for the debts to be wiped or made beyond recovery. A leading Australian welfare expert has warned that the accuracy of such a vast total cannot be trusted.