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ABC TV commissions book-to-screen series Robodebt with Lingo Pictures 

Jason Stephens and Helen Bowden

Australia’s ABC TV has commissioned a series based on journalist Rick Morton’s book Mean Streak, an expose on the Australian government’s financial scandal, Robodebt, which resulted in the country’s largest class action.

Production companyLingo has acquired Morton’s book rights from publisher HarperCollins and will be adapting Mean Streak into a dramatised mini-series re-named, Robodebt for ABC linear and ABC iView.

The Robodebt scandal resulted in compensation being paid to more than half a million Australians and cost the Government A$1.8bn (US$1.24bn) dollars.

Morton said: “It is a story that deserves to be seen and heard by as many people as possible. I am so grateful that Lingo Pictures are creating the top-tier drama it deserves; a production that will show all Australians and others around the world what happens when crude government systems encounter real people.”

The television series writing team will be led by Stuart Page (Total Control), with Magda Wozniak (The Messenger) and Sophie Miller (Family Law). Helen Bowden will produce for Lingo Pictures with Jason Stephens and Stuart Page as Executive Producers.

Bowden said: “We will focus on the human stories: the grieving mothers whose sons took their own lives; the Centrelink worker who blew the whistle after decades of loyalty; and the digital activists who helped bring the scandal to light. We are very grateful to so many of these people who are working closely with us to bring this story to the screen. We believe it will make great television drama.”

ITV Studios has been appointed to handle international sales.

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