The Westminster Tradition
Unpacking lessons for the public service, starting with the Robodebt Royal Commission. In 2019, after three years, Robodebt was found to be unlawful. The Royal Commission process found it was also immoral and wildly inaccurate. Ultimately the Australian Government was forced to pay $1.8bn back to more than 470,000 Australians. In this podcast we dive deep into public policy failures like Robodebt and the British Post Office scandal - how they start, why they're hard to stop, and the public service lessons we shouldn't forget.
Latest episodes
Nov 8, 2023 • 27min
15. Behavioural insights in Robodebt: at last, an argument!
Discussion on behavioral insights in the context of the Robo-Debt program. Exploring the concept of 'nudge' to influence behavior. Highlighting misapplication of behavioral insights in the Robodebt system and lack of consideration for vulnerable recipients. Exploring user-centered design and customer insights in the BI system. Concerns about using behavioral insights solely for the government's benefit.
Oct 16, 2023 • 37min
14. The Grinch that stole Christmas
The podcast discusses the role of Christmas leave in the Robodebt controversy and the confusion it can cause. It also covers the importance of not leaving roles vacant in government, ongoing discussions surrounding a media controversy, and the chaos of a contested handover. The speakers highlight the need to fully disconnect from work during leave and share a helpful hack of disabling work emails on phones.
Oct 9, 2023 • 29min
13. Pink Batts and Robodebt - lessons not learned
This podcast discusses the Pink Bats and Robodebt scandals, exploring the challenges of meeting deadlines, lack of content knowledge, team composition, and risk in decision-making.
Sep 4, 2023 • 31min
12. Robodebt as algorithm (part 3) - Jurassic Park ICT and AI
The podcast explores the algorithmic nature of Robodebt and the Great British Post Office scandal, discussing topics such as the legal implications of computer decisions, transparency in decision-making algorithms, incentives for upskilling and reskilling in the workforce, and lessons learned and future plans in making ICT systems transparent.
Aug 22, 2023 • 31min
11. Robodebt as algorithm (part 2) - random number generator decision-making
In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss the impact of automation on administrative decisions, explore the challenges of decision-making in the public service, and delve into the randomness of numbers generated by algorithmic systems. They highlight the Robodebt scandal and the Great British post office scandal as examples of the pitfalls of relying on computers for decision-making.
Aug 5, 2023 • 30min
10. Robodebt as algorithm (part 1) - junk data and Swiss cheese
In this episode, Professor Darren O’Donovan discusses big data in government, the challenges of data handling in the Robodebt system, and the importance of thorough data cleansing. The speakers also explore the imperfections in addressing social issues through data and highlight the flaws in the RoboDebt system.
Aug 4, 2023 • 29min
9. Why is it hard to hear whistleblowers? The lessons from Robodebt
Explore the difficulties faced by agencies in hearing whistleblowers, as well as the challenges of change management and effective communication in government. Discover the struggles encountered by whistleblowers and the importance of understanding offended values and using appropriate language.
Jul 13, 2023 • 36min
Bonus Episode: The Robodebt Report is out - early thoughts and reflections
The hosts discuss their thoughts on the Robo-Dept Royal Commission Report and the importance of security and social justice. They reflect on their personal experiences with the robo-debt system and the enabling factors behind the scandal. The chapter explores national identity and welfare systems, and the difference between mutual aid and poor house charity. They also discuss upcoming episodes on whistleblowers, activism campaigns, accountability, and morality versus ethics.
Jul 1, 2023 • 25min
5. How *not* to stop something - DSS, the Columbia effect, and the first missed opportunity to stop Robodebt
The podcast discusses the process of how the Robodebt policy passed through the DSS, the impact of language and decision-making, the importance of subject matter experts, and the challenges of distillation and hierarchical culture.
Jul 1, 2023 • 23min
6. When you discover you've been had - DSS, faux collegiality and the second missed opportunity to stop Robodebt
This podcast explores the unlawful nature of the Robodet program and the lack of oversight by government agencies. It dives into the challenges women face in meetings and the cover-up by the DSS when they discover the use of averaging ease. The podcast also highlights the frustration with poor leadership and governance in addressing the issue.
