By Basant El-Faramawy
The Albanese government is "sleepwalking into another robodebt" scandal due to a lack of transparency and legislation around the use of algorithms and artificial intelligence in decision-making, according to the Centre for Public Integrity.
Think tank calls for mandatory audit and public register
The centre's chief executive, Catherine Williams, launched the "Computer Says No" report on Thursday, which examines automated decision-making (ADM) tools used by the government. The report makes eight recommendations, including a mandatory audit and public register of all ADM use, and an independent oversight body with powers to monitor, audit and investigate the government.
Aged care algorithm under scrutiny
The report highlights concerns about the government's integrated assessment tool (IAT), which uses an algorithm to determine the level of home support older Australians receive. The IAT has been found to routinely under-assess needs and package entitlements, while aged care assessors are banned from overriding incorrect algorithmic decisions.
Government response and framework delays
Attorney General Michelle Rowland said the government is committed to ensuring the safe and responsible use of ADM, and that a framework implementing recommendations from the robodebt royal commission is under development. However, she did not respond to questions about when a draft framework might be completed. A Commonwealth Ombudsman report published in October found that transparency recommendations from the robodebt royal commission had been ignored in the development and rollout of the IAT.
Independent MP pushes for legislated framework
Independent MP Kate Chaney introduced a private member's bill in September to establish the first legislated, mandatory framework for ADM use by the government. Chaney said the Attorney General's department consultation process finished almost two years ago, and urged continued pressure to prevent the framework from being dropped.
