Shakedown brings Robodebt story to ABC with Kate Box, Justine Clarke and Mandy McElhinney – ABC has set a Sunday, 22 November premiere for Shakedown, a four-part Australian drama about the Robodebt scandal. It begins at 8.20pm on ABC TV, with all four episodes available to stream on ABC iview.
The broadcast-and-box-set release gives viewers two ways to follow the story: at the announced television premiere or in full on iview. The series centres the people affected by the debt notices, as well as those who challenged the scheme and those who defended it.
Kate Box plays Jenny Miller, a grieving mother determined to find answers. Mandy McElhinney portrays Malisa Golightly, a Department of Human Services executive who protects the scheme. Justine Clarke plays Colleen Taylor, a Centrelink worker who raises concerns from the outset and faces consequences for doing so. These are the three characters through whose experiences the drama examines the scandal.
The human story behind Shakedown
Between 2015 and 2019, nearly 500,000 Australians received automated Centrelink debt notices for debts they did not owe, according to the ABC’s account accompanying the series. Shakedown depicts the consequences for people who lost homes, livelihoods and relationships, and follows the victims, activists, journalists and lawyers who challenged the scheme.
The production approaches a complex public-policy failure through character drama. It also asks how the scheme came to operate and who bore its cost. The ABC describes the resulting class action settlement as the largest in Australian history.
Watch the Shakedown trailer
ABC has released an official first-look trailer ahead of the November premiere.
Who else stars in Shakedown?
The ensemble also includes Sarah Peirse, Jack Patten, Johnny Carr, Stephen Peacocke, Rebecca Massey, Claire Van Der Boom, Guy Edmonds, Ahunim Abebe, Victoria Haralabidou, Alison Bell and Vic Zerbst. The ABC has not specified their character names in this announcement.
Who made the ABC drama?
Shakedown is a Lingo Pictures production for the ABC. Lingo’s previous work includes Watching You, Upright, Prosper, Lambs of God and After the Party. Lingo Pictures is part of ITV Studios, which will distribute the series internationally.
Magda Wozniak, Sophie Miller and Blake Ayshford created the series for television and wrote it. Jennifer Leacey directs. Helen Bowden and Linda Micsko are the producers, while Jason Stephens, Ayshford, Miller, Wozniak and Rick Morton are executive producers. Brett Sleigh and Rachel Okine are the ABC’s executive producers. The production has major investment from the ABC and Screen Australia, with support from Screen NSW.
When can Australians watch Shakedown?
Shakedown premieres on ABC TV at 8.20pm on Sunday, 22 November 2026. All four episodes will be available on ABC iview from the premiere. The ABC has not supplied a later weekly broadcast schedule in this announcement.
For more TV Central ABC stories, explore our ABC coverage. Viewers can also visit ABC iview for the streaming service.
