Automated Decision-Making (ADM) Bill 2026

Establishing a legislated, mandatory framework for ADM to ensure there is not a repeat of the Robodebt scandal

On 7 September 2026, Kate Chaney MP introduced a Private Member’s Bill to establish Australia’s first legislated, mandatory framework for the use of automated decision-making (ADM) in government.

“We must not repeat the mistakes of the past; Australians expect better from their representatives,” Ms Chaney said.

“In July 2023, the Robodebt Royal Commission found the automated debt recovery scheme was unlawful and recommended a legislated ADM framework as a solution to prevent similar failures from recurring. More than two years on, it still doesn’t exist and vulnerable Australians are paying for it.

“For the best part of a year, an algorithm had the final say on aged care funding for older Australians, with no human oversight to override wrong decisions. Complaints piled up, the Ombudsman opened an investigation, and it took a Senate revolt to force the Government’s hand. Even now, this eleventh hour fix only applies to cases that are ‘clearly incorrect’, and only in aged care.

“That’s not good policymaking, it’s damage control. And it doesn’t prevent the same situation arising in the NDIS, or Centrelink, or another government agency that none of us are watching. Governments shouldn’t wait for public complaints before checking a computer’s homework.”

Ms Chaney’s Bill is based on her March 2026 policy paper, Fairer and Faster Government Decisions, developed through consultation with legal experts, advocates and more than 760 Curtin constituents.

“More than 80 per cent of the people I surveyed are uncomfortable with government using automated systems to make decisions about them, and nearly 80 per cent want legislated, mandatory rules. That’s an overwhelming call for basic accountability.

“My Bill sets one standard for the whole of government: transparency about where ADM is used, mandatory human oversight and override for high-risk decisions, and a fast, genuine right to review — so no Australian has to wait for their case to make headlines before someone is allowed to check the algorithm’s work.

“Today I’m giving the Parliament an opportunity to stop putting out spot fires one broken system at a time by finally legislating what the Robodebt Royal Commission recommended more than two years ago.”

You can read the Automated Decision-Making (Safeguards and Transparency) Bill 2026 and the Explanatory Memorandum.