Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

The Oversight Legislation Amendment (Robodebt Royal Commission Response and Other Measures) Bill 2024 protects the community against any repeat of the robodebt scheme by ensuring Commonwealth agencies are subject to stronger and more rigorous oversight. By bolstering the capabilities of the Commonwealth Ombudsman to provide impartial, independent and robust oversight, the bill delivers on two key recommendations of the robodebt royal commission.

Firstly, the bill will impose a statutory duty on agency heads and their staff to use their best endeavours to assist the Ombudsman in the exercise of the Ombudsman's functions. This will make it clear that the responsibility to assist the Ombudsman rests with every member of the public service. Secondly, the bill enhance the Ombudsman's investigatory powers by introducing amendments to ensure the Ombudsman has full and free access to agency records, including by remote means. Agencies will be required to provide reasonable facilities and assistance when the Ombudsman exercises these information-gathering powers. Equivalent amendments will also be made to support the work of the Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman.

The robodebt scheme that was established by the former Liberal government and the devastating harm that it caused cannot be allowed to be repeated. The public deserve to have the confidence that agencies are acting lawfully and with integrity and remain accountable for their actions. This bill ensures that government agencies are subject to stronger and more rigorous oversight. In doing so, it demonstrates the Albanese government's commitment to restoring public trust in our institutions and ensuring that people remain at the centre of policy development and government service delivery.

I commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Ordered that this bill be reported to the House without amendment.

Federation Chamber adjourned at 19:2 2

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