<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>330597</docID> <postdate>2024-10-10 09:06:17</postdate> <headline>Public servants face fines if robodebt happens again</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-330598" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20230630001815968522-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="550" /></p> <caption>Proposed changes aim to ensure Commonwealth agencies are subject to more rigorous scrutiny. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Luke Costin</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Attempts to hide the next robodebt scandal from independent oversight of the public service will be punished by thousands of dollars in fines.</strong></p> <p>Bureaucrats and agency bosses would be bound to help investigations while those stonewalling access to files could be dragged to court.</p> <p>The changes proposed by the Albanese government are aimed at ensuring Commonwealth agencies are subject to stronger and more rigorous scrutiny.</p> <p>They fulfil two recommendations from the robodebt royal commission, which found more than $750 million was illegally recovered from welfare recipients.</p> <p>The scheme relied on a flawed algorithm to identify individuals who owed the government money.</p> <p>It affected 381,000 people over five years.</p> <p>Robodebt was known to be unfair and probably illegal in early 2017.</p> <p>But dishonesty and collusion inside the public service prevented the scheme's lack of legal foundation coming to light, the royal commission found.</p> <p>It was finally stopped by the coalition government in 2019.</p> <p>Following the damning royal commission, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus stressed the need to rebuild trust in government.</p> <p>Impartial, independent and robust oversight was central to this commitment.</p> <p>"The robodebt royal commission made it clear that strong and effective oversight is necessary to safeguard the community in their dealings with government," Mr Dreyfus said.</p> <p>"Trust in government depends on this."</p> <p>Under the proposal, an offence would be created for withholding reasonable facilities and assistance from the Commonwealth Ombudsman.</p> <p>Anyone penalised for breaking this law could be fined more than $3000.</p> <p>The watchdog would be able to access agency records remotely under enhanced information-gathering powers.</p> <p>And the tax ombudsman would also receive the same powers.</p> <p>The coalition has apologised for its role in the robodebt scheme and opposition leader Peter Dutton acknowledged his side of politics needed to learn from the saga.</p> <p>Labor has committed to implementing all recommendations from the royal commission, bar one watering down automatic cabinet confidentiality.</p> </body>