KEY FINDINGS OF THE ROBODEBT INQUIRY
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* The royal commission report has made 57 recommendations.
* Key figures have been referred for civil and criminal charges, although the names are mentioned in a sealed chapter of the report that won't be released to the public.
* It recommended a body should be set up with the power to monitor automated decision-making processes.
* Services Australia should set up a debt-recovery management policy, with limits of six years on debt recovery also being reinstated.
* The government should carry out a review into the structure of the social services portfolio and the status of Services Australia.
* Services Australia should design policies with an emphasis on recipients, which also shouldn't reinforce feelings of stigma associated with government support.
* Consideration should be given of the different vulnerabilities of recipients who could be affected by compliance programs.
* Engagement with Centrelink should be made easier for advocates, such as through a national advocates line.
* A customer reference group should be set up to provide insight to the government about experiences of people receiving income support.
* More face-to-face customer support should be made available for vulnerable recipients, as well as increased social worker support.
* All policy proposals as part of the budget should contain a statement on whether legislative changes would be needed in order for them to be lawfully implemented.
* Legal advice should be sought on the end-to-end date exchange process between Services Australia and the ATO to make sure they are legal.
* A new legal framework is needed for the use of automation in government services, with a clear path for review by those affected by related decisions.
* Senior staff within Services Australia should spend time in front-line delivery services.
* Changes should be made to the Public Service Act so the public service commissioner can inquire into the conduct of former agency heads.
* Changes should be made to the Freedom of Information Act so the description of a cabinet document is no longer justification for maintaining its confidentiality.
KEY FACTS OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION
* The report was handed down in three volumes and is more than 990 pages long.
* The commission issued 200 notices to give information and 180 notices to produce documents.
* The government produced more than 958,000 documents for the commission.
* There were 3030 hours of hearings held with 115 witnesses, with more than 5050 pages of transcripts.
* More than 10,000 exhibits were tendered.
Australian Associated Press
