The Westminster Tradition Podcast Artwork Image

The Westminster Tradition

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.
Episodes
The Royal Commission we should have? The 2013 Essendon Football Club supplements scandalApril 29, 2024
Episode artwork
Sue Vardon AO, inaugural CE of Centrelink: On learning while in the jobApril 16, 2024
Episode artwork
Sue Vardon AO, inaugural CE of Centrelink: On lawyersMarch 30, 2024
Episode artwork
'Do it now, get it right later': payment (in)accuracy in Centrelink - setting the stage for RobodebtMarch 19, 2024
Episode artwork
Mr Bates v Post Office part 4 - the roll out of HorizonMarch 04, 2024
Episode artwork
Mr Bates v Post Office part 3 - accepting a lemonFebruary 20, 2024
Episode artwork
Mr Bates v Post Office part 2 - a very poor procurementFebruary 06, 2024
Episode artwork
Mr Bates v Post Office - shades of Robodebt?January 24, 2024
Episode artwork
Bonus episode: Sue Vardon AO - inaugural CE of Centrelink (1997-2004)December 26, 2023
Episode artwork
16. Taking responsibility - lessons from RobodebtDecember 01, 2023
Episode artwork
Bonus Episode: Dr Darren O'Donovon on centering the victims of Robodebt, the fragmentation of knowledge and accountability, and the creation of moral discomfortNovember 16, 2023
Episode artwork
15. Behavioural insights in Robodebt: at last, an argument!November 08, 2023
Episode artwork
14. The Grinch that stole ChristmasOctober 17, 2023
Episode artwork
13. Pink Batts and Robodebt - lessons not learnedOctober 09, 2023
Episode artwork
12. Robodebt as algorithm (part 3) - Jurassic Park ICT and AISeptember 05, 2023
Episode artwork
11. Robodebt as algorithm (part 2) - random number generator decision-makingAugust 22, 2023
Episode artwork
10. Robodebt as algorithm (part 1) - junk data and Swiss cheeseAugust 05, 2023
Episode artwork
9. Why is it hard to hear whistleblowers? The lessons from RobodebtAugust 04, 2023
Episode artwork
Bonus Episode: The Robodebt Report is out - early thoughts and reflectionsJuly 13, 2023
Episode artwork
8. Advice is just advice - what the lawyers knew about RobodebtJuly 01, 2023
Episode artwork
7. 'A bit of a fixer-upper' - DHS and the botched launch of RobodebtJuly 01, 2023
Episode artwork
6. When you discover you've been had - DSS, faux collegiality and the second missed opportunity to stop RobodebtJuly 01, 2023
Episode artwork
5. How *not* to stop something - DSS, the Columbia effect, and the first missed opportunity to stop RobodebtJuly 01, 2023
Episode artwork
4. Culture on the frontlines - Centrelink and RobodebtJuly 01, 2023
Episode artwork
3. Culture from the top - DHS and RobodebtJuly 01, 2023
Episode artwork