Dion Barber ordered to pay $215,000 Centrelink bill following State compensation win, as appeal drags on

A man who won a massive payout from the WA Government for the horrific abuse he faced as a child while in State care is now being forced to pay back more than $200,000 to Centrelink. Dion Barber won a landmark legal case in September and was awarded damages of $2.85 million, the largest amount of compensation paid for a claim of this type in WA. As the Cook Government appeals the decision to “seek clarity” of the law — while maintaining Mr Barber will be paid out the full amount regardless — Mr Barber has been stung with another cost by the Federal Government. Centrelink has requested Mr Barber pay back $215,000 he received as income support payments, while fighting his case in the court for compensation. Services Australia says it is standard practice to recover funds issued to individuals who are later provided compensation and its general manager Hank Jongen claimed the department was legally obligated to recover the money. “While we can’t discuss individual cases, we sincerely apologise to Mr Barber if recent interactions with the agency have caused any distress,” he said. Mr Jongen said his department’s view was that the compensation awarded to Mr Barber over his abuse also covered the period in which he received income support payments. “Provisions of social security law are designed to ensure that people who receive compensation for a loss of income do not also receive income support from the Australian Government. “While there are redress schemes that are exempt from compensation provisions, individual judgements are not.” Mr Barber’s lawyers say they are seeking a review of the decision and are awaiting a response. Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas slammed the situation, saying Mr Barber was effectively being tortured. “How much does Dion Barber have to endure? We’ve all heard the interviews with Mr Barber, he talks about the pain and torment that he has experienced at the hands of this State Government,” he said. “Now Labor Governments appear to be conspiring to further penalise him, he has suffered enough. “Mr Barber should not be made to endure this sort of pain, the Labor Premier and the Labor Prime Minister, who have jurisdiction, should get together and sort this out. “At the very least, I call on the Premier to drop this appeal, it’s not fair on Mr Barber, it doesn’t pass community standards, he has suffered enough, he is effectively being tortured and this is not right.” Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the government was not a party to the matter and would not intervene in the situation but she hoped it was resolved “quickly and compassionately”. “Anything between Dion and Centrelink is really a matter for Dion and Centrelink, but he certainly will receive that State Government funds,” she said Mr Barber has previously shared how much the appeal case was weighing on him. “I wanted to bring about change for other children and survivors,” he told The West Australian in March. “It’s horrible I still have to fight. “I still have nightmares about giving evidence in the trial.” The Minister for Social Services, Tanya Plibersek, has been contacted for comment.