Two years after recommendations made by the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme, tens of thousands of welfare recipients in Australia are again suffering at the hands of another government automated system.

Over 2022 to 2024, more than 900 people had their jobseeker payments cancelled by an automated system that underpins Workforce Australia’s Targeted Compliance Framework. There are also concerns as to whether the suspension of payments — which happens in tens of thousands every month — was legal.

The Commonwealth Ombudsman found the payments had been cancelled unlawfully, warning that the issue could have catastrophic impact on vulnerable recipients, invoking conclusions from the Robodebt Royal Commission.

Attendees will hear from ADM+S scholars as well as the Antipoverty Centre and Economic Justice Australia about their advocacy work, followed by questions and discussion of next steps.

Speakers

• Prof. Kimberlee Weatherall (University of Sydney)
• Prof. Terry Carney (University of Sydney)
• Dr. Simone Casey (Economic Justice Australia)
• Kristin O’Connell (Antipoverty Centre)

Event contacts
Samantha Floreani (samantha.floreani@monash.edu)
Kimberlee Weatherall (kimberlee.weatherall@sydney.edu.au)