The real problem with Robodebt was poor records management.

Robodebt had lots of problems – but one of the larger problems was that records management was obviously failing in the years leading up to the program.

As Records Management professionals, we should be asking why the agency did not have access to or did not use evidence that allowed it to run this program without issuing incorrect notices.

We had notices issued to:

1. People for debts that they didn’t have.
2. Deceased people.
3. Disabled pensioners.
4. People with mental illnesses who were known to be unable to manage their financial affairs.

An agency with a good records program would not have issued notices like this.

Any time an agency (or any organisation) will rely on prevously recorded information, records matters.