Centrelink robodebt had ‘profoundly negative’ impact, inquiry finds by David Donaldson | 0 comments Centrelink's 'robodebt' system should be suspended until all procedural fairness flaws are addressed, argues a Senate inquiry report. Human checks should be reinstated.
Visa and citizenship boss appointed Commonwealth Ombudsman by Stephen Easton | 0 comments In a break with convention, the federal government has appointed a career public servant directly from the senior ranks of the immigration and border protection portfolio as the next Commonwealth Ombudsman.
Centrelink’s debt recovery system: automation without good public administration by Stephen Easton | 0 comments The Commonwealth Ombudsman reports Centrelink's automated debt recovery drive is an example of digital transformation that failed to maintain good public administration, procedural fairness under administrative law, and risk management.
‘Yawning gaps’: government corporations need new watchdog by Neil Westbury | 0 comments OPINION: Federal government corporations need an independent regulator, argues Neil Westbury, a former top bureaucrat who sat on the Indigenous Land Corporation board.
What should a federal ICAC look like? The hypothetical long arm by Gabrielle Appleby & Grant Hoole | 0 comments OPINION: Support for an anti-corruption body examining Commonwealth institutions won't go away as cross-bench senators revive the public debate. But what would such a body look like? Here are some options ...
Can everyone win blowing the whistle? World-leading research by Stephen Easton | A world-leading collaborative research project is back, bigger than ever, to shed light on how to manage whistleblowers so everyone wins. The call has gone out to all Australian agencies to take part.
Whistleblower law gone to the dogs, change afoot to narrow scope by Stephen Easton | 0 comments Too many small, interpersonal matters are being dressed up as whistleblowing, says the nation's former integrity commissioner who will soon complete a statutory two-year review of the Commonwealth's disclosure law.
‘Computer says no’ not good enough, warns Ombudsman by David Donaldson | 0 comments Policy should dictate automated processes and not the other way around, the Commonwealth Ombudsman has warned Canberra, following a review of Centrelink's income management measure.
Would cash lure out more government whistleblowers? by Stephen Easton | 1 comment Most people are loath to become whistleblowers, and with good reason. The two-year-old Public Interest Disclosure Act is encouraging more public servants to come forward, but reprisals are still feared. Would a little cash help, too?
Self-service not serving all at Centrelink by Stephen Easton | 0 comments When DHS and Centrelink was hit with a series of critical reports about its customer handling, the department went to work on improvements. The Commonwealth Ombudsman says considerable progress has been made in the last year, but self-service still doesn't work for everyone.
Defence Force abuse report: let the good work continue by Harley Dennett | 0 comments Hundreds of victims are still waiting for justice and closure, says the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce final report. The Commonwealth Ombudsman has been nominated to take over.
