The Centre for Public Integrity warned the Albanese government is "sleepwalking its way into another robodebt" scandal due to a lack of transparency and legislation regarding the use of algorithms and artificial intelligence in decision-making.
Dr Catherine Williams, chief executive of the thinktank, launched the "Computer Says No" report on Thursday to examine the use of automated decision-making (ADM) tools. The report expressed concern that Australians may be unaware when ADM is used to make decisions affecting them. Among eight recommendations, the report calls for a mandatory audit, a public register of all ADM use, and the creation of an independent oversight body with powers to monitor and investigate the government.
Williams said the report was prompted by evidence regarding the government’s integrated assessment tool (IAT), which determines home support entitlements for older Australians. The IAT has been found to routinely under-assess needs and package entitlements, while aged care assessors are currently banned by the government from overriding incorrect algorithmic decisions.
“We have been watching the evidence emerge in relation to the aged care algorithm tool, and becoming increasingly concerned about what is clearly the lack of an appropriate and robust framework to govern use of ADM by the government,” Williams said.
Attorney General Michelle Rowland stated the government is committed to ensuring the safe and responsible use of ADM to deliver efficient services and said the upcoming framework will implement recommendations from the royal commission into robodebt. The framework aims to improve accuracy, embed transparency obligations, and ensure human oversight. Public consultation for the framework is expected to end in January 2025.
However, a report from the commonwealth ombudsman published in October found that the government ignored transparency recommendations from the robodebt royal commission when developing and rolling out the IAT. Additionally, independent MP Kate Chaney introduced a private member’s bill to establish a mandatory framework for ADM use, noting that government departments are currently making decisions with little consistency or transparency.
