The Commonwealth should consider legislative reform to introduce a consistent legal framework in which automation in government services can operate. Where automated decision-making is implemented:
- there should be a clear path for those affected by decisions to seek review
- departmental websites should contain information advising that automated decision-making is used and explaining in plain language how the process works
- business rules and algorithms should be made available, to enable independent expert scrutiny.
The Government accepts this recommendation.
The safe and responsible development and deployment of automated decision-making provides important opportunities to deliver timely and efficient services for Australians. The Government will consider opportunities for legislative reform to introduce a consistent legal framework in which automation in government services can operate ethically, without bias and with appropriate safeguards, which will include consideration of:
- review pathways for those affected by decisions, and
- transparency about the use of automated decision-making, and how such decision-making processes operate, for persons affected by decisions and to enable independent scrutiny.
The reforms agreed to in the Government response to the Privacy Act Review Report, released 28 September 2023, will also increase the transparency and integrity of decisions made using automated decision-making that uses personal information. Privacy policies will be required to set out the types of personal information used in automated decision-making systems that have a legal or similarly significant effect on an individual's rights. There will also be a right for individuals to request meaningful information about how these decisions are made.[1]
- ↑ Government response to the Privacy Act Review Report, 2023.
