CJZ explores Australia’s Robodebt scandal with docudrama funded by SBS

Australian broadcaster SBS has commissioned and funded a docudrama series from CJZ exploring the scandal surrounding the Aussie government’s failed Robodebt scheme.

Michael Cordell

Described as a landmark series, the project will combine factual storytelling with scripted drama in a bid to “take audiences beyond the headlines to experience the impact the scheme had on Australia’s most vulnerable citizens.”

The project is competing with a similar one from rival public broadcaster the ABC, which in January commissioned a drama miniseries based on journalist Rick Morton’s book Mean Streak with production company Lingo Pictures.

The Robodebt scandal emerged between 2015 and 2019 and surrounded an unlawful method of automated debt assessment and recovery implemented by the government. It resulted in compensation being paid to more than half a million Australians at a cost of A$1.8bn (US$1.2bn).

SBS and CJZ’s version of the story, working-titled Robodebt, has been developed through SBS’s new major development fund, which launched in March to find original and ambitious idea that explore inequality, social cohesion and the fault lines in Australian society.

SBS director of television Kathryn Fink said: “SBS wanted to unearth a series unlike anything seen on Australian screens before. Robodebt will reveal the fight for justice by some of the most vulnerable people in our society. We’re excited to be working with CJZ on this series, which will shine a much-needed spotlight on this unprecedented chapter in recent Australian history.”

The series will be directed by Ben Lawrence (Ithaka, Hearts and Bones) with screenwriter Jane Allen (Janet King, Cleverman, Last King of the Cross) serving as writer and script producer.

CJZ creative director Michael Cordell said: “Robodebt inflicted a tsunami of pain on hundreds of thousands of ordinary Australians accused of having fictitious debts. We’re excited to be telling this story with an innovative combination of hard-nosed factual and high-end drama to push the limits of contemporary storytelling.”