Simple narrative: welfare recipient writes in the media about her problematic personal experience of dealing with Centrelink in relation to its pursuit of a debt for alleged overpayments of welfare — which she disputed. Kafka-esque is such an overused motif, but it’s pretty apt for Andie Fox’s bureaucratic ordeal.

Centrelink and its overlord, the Department of Human Services (DHS), apparently felt that Fox was being unfair. As has now been revealed in Senate estimates as standard practice for DHS whenever it is being criticised by one of its “clients”, the department dug out Fox’s file and reported on her personal situation to the minister.