I crunched the numbers, and they suggest the Robodebt algorithm’s error rate was on the order of 80%.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on Robodebt
Displaying 1 - 20 of 26 articles
My new report for the royal commission examines why the practice of income averaging is so problematic.
Robodebt should never again be framed as a technological glitch or a legal oversight. It was the active and direct exploitation of people’s vulnerability.
The unexpected contest will be a major test for opposition leader Peter Dutton, who is particularly unpopular in Victoria.
AI models are increasingly being used to make important decision about people’s lives – just take Robodebt. Yet the complexity of these systems means we hardly understand them.
It was vintage Morrison, as he gave evidence on a scandal that involved appalling treatment of people wrongfully pursued in the name of the “integrity” of the welfare system
Robodebt sent a clear message to Australians that their government did not trust them.
Behind the planning process sits an opaque system of automated decision-making. It rests on a generated plan, called a ‘typical support package’.
University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and Associate Professor of journalism Dr. Caroline Fisher talk about this week in politics.
Making promises add up just before an election carries risks. Labor says its no longer willing to wear them.
Financially stressing people who can’t make ends meet makes it hard for them to function.
The combination of community activism, journalistic investigation, political scrutiny and the legal aid system has ultimately provided a remedy to the victims.
The Morrison government is resisting calls for a royal commission into robodebt. But there are still too many unanswered questions about the controversial scheme.
Algorithms can take much of the hard work out of tough decisions. But to avoid problems like the Robodebt debacle or unfair parole rulings, we need to ensure machines operate with human-like ethics.
ParentsNext compels mothers into makework rather than work and devalues the work they do.
The government will repay interest and collection fees. What it hasn’t agreed to, yet, is the payment of damages.
Assuming machines could take the place of judges belies their role as the third arm of government and makers of law.
The Commonwealth has conceded that its program of automatic debt collection was unlawful. It’ll probably have to pay the money back.
University of Canberra VC Deep Saini and Michelle Grattan discuss this week in politics, and talk about what to expect in the last parliamentary sitting fortnight, which starts this Monday.
The Department of Human Service’s customer compliance staff will now be required to seek “additional proof” rather than solely relying on income averaging when determining if there is a debt.
Top contributors
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Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
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Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Sydney
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Peter Whiteford is a Friend of The Conversation.
Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
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Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
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Senior Lecturer in Administrative Law, La Trobe University
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Associate Professor, Philosophy of Science, Australian Catholic University
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Professor, School of Social Sciences & Institute Principle Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University
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Professor of Public Policy, University of Adelaide
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Professor, Curtin Law School and Curtin Business School, Curtin University
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Associate professor, Australian National University
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Senior Lecturer, Macquarie School of Social Sciences, Macquarie University
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Associate Professor of Law, University of South Australia
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Professorial Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne
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Senior Lecturer in Law, Queensland University of Technology
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Senior lecturer, Australian National University
