Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I refer to the Australian Human Rights Commission's Human rights and technology final report, and I move:

That the Senate take note of the document.

I think this report is very timely—particularly as we had the outcome of the robodebt debacle last Friday, where the judge named the debacle a 'shameful chapter' in public administration, which has led to the Federal Court approving a settlement between the Commonwealth and victims of the robodebt scheme worth $1.8 billion. The judge also described it as a 'massive failure' and said that it should have been obvious to the government ministers and senior public servants that the debt-raising method central to the scheme was flawed. He said the evidence showed that it was unlawful. And of course we know that this scheme led to the government unlawfully raising $1.76 billion in debt against 443,000 people.

I raise that to highlight the importance of this report by the Australian Human Rights Commission. In their report they actually use the robodebt debacle as an example of why we need to make sure that we address human rights in the use of technology, the use of artificial intelligence and the digital world. In fact, there's a section on 'Automated government services'. First off, it talks about a Council of Europe study and says:

As a Council of Europe study observed, automation by government can reduce transparency and accountability—

bingo for robodebt!—

and increase the risk of arbitrary decisions—

bingo, robodebt! The report further says:

The use of AI, and especially automation, in delivering government services can engage human rights including the right to social security—

Bing! Robodebt!—

and an adequate standard of living, the right to nondiscrimination and equality, and the right to an effective remedy.

This is why this sort of report is so essential. It contains a number of recommendations which I urge the government to take on board.

One of the issues that I particularly want to raise here is the disadvantage people on low incomes and in poverty can face in trying to access a digital world, an online world, when more and more services are being delivered by government online. They are being increasingly isolated. In fact, people talk about digital poverty because when you're living in poverty, you cannot afford these services. In particular, in the very near future this place will be talking about the delivery of employment services online, sending more and more people online and on to digital platforms. Again, this will disadvantage the most vulnerable members of our community who cannot afford the internet or cannot access platforms on their phones—they run out of credit on their phones, for example, because it's pay as you go. The report talks about that extensively. It talks about the fact that the Red Cross said:

Pervasive service digitisation and dependence on technology in our private and public lives can further disadvantage vulnerable Australians. Improving digital inclusion is critical to ensure that everyone in our community is empowered to participate and contribute. Technology can empower people in so many ways—they can stay connected and involved with their social and community networks, access knowledge and services to help them stay well, or link to learning and job opportunities.

I couldn't agree more, but the central point here is that you have to be able to afford it. You have to look at people's human rights. That's why this report is so important. Not only are people being excluded from society because of the digital divide, their human rights are being violated under a number of conventions, including the right to social security, the right not to be discriminated against and the right to equality. This report is very important. I urge people to read it. I urge the government to take action to ensure people are not excluded because they're vulnerable and can't afford the technology. I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted.