DHS watered down data scientists’ advice on robodebt


Joseph Brookes
Senior Reporter

The department responsible for robodebt tried to water down independent advice from data experts and asked the government technology agency to enhance the illegal scheme’s “user experience” in less than a week.

According to a damning Royal Commission, the behaviour suggests both a knowledge of fundamental problems with the data underpinning the scheme and a “positive acceptance” of it as debts were being issued.

Kathryn Campbell, the secretary of the Department of Human Services in 2017, at the Robodebt Royal Commission

Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.

Leave a Comment