Former human services minister Alan Tudge commissioned an independent investigation into the controversial program in 2017.

But the process was cut short after his department told consultants a visual presentation would be sufficient.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) ditched the inquiry and never handed over a written report, despite being in the late stages of drafting its findings.

The commission is examining why the scheme was established in 2015 and how it continued until 2019, given it had generated significant criticism by early 2017.

PwC partner Thai Bowe, director Frank van Hagen and former partner Terry Weber will give evidence following partner Shane West’s appearance last month.

West said after the human services department indicated the presentation would act as the audit’s final product, PwC ditched their investigation and never handed over a written report despite drafts being at a late stage.

Royal Commissioners Catherine Holmes suggested then that “a nod and a wink” may have been given for PwC not to hand over the report, which had cost upwards of $1 million.

The Centrelink debt recovery scheme involved using annual tax office data to calculate average fortnightly earnings and automatically issue welfare debt notices.

The government unlawfully recovered more than $750 million from more than 380,000 people and has been blamed as contributing to several suicides.

Former human services director Tenille Collins and principal lawyer Brian Sparkes will also give evidence along with an affected employee.

The commission is conducting its final two weeks of public hearings, with a final report due to be handed down on June 30.

The original deadline was extended when an extra 100,000 documents were produced.

-with AAP