The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) welcomes the introduction of the Automated Decision-Making (Safeguards and Transparency) Bill 2026 by independent Kate Chaney MP, seconded by Dr Monique Ryan MP, as an important opportunity to establish consistent safeguards across government.
AFDO Chair and President Grant Lindsay said, “AFDO was present in Parliament for the introduction of this important Bill, and our members are clear: people with disability must remain at the centre of any decisions involving automated systems.”
“People must know when automation is used, understand how a decision was made and have access to timely human review. Technology can assist government, but responsibility cannot be automated away,” Mr Lindsay said.
AFDO National Manager, Systemic Advocacy & Policy, Matthew Hall said, “safeguards must be built in from the start. Automation can support decision-making, but the greater the impact on a person’s rights, services or supports, the stronger the safeguards need to be.”
“That means transparency about how decisions are made, appropriate human oversight, accessible reasons for decisions, and meaningful rights to challenge and review them.” Mr Hall said.
AFDO CEO Ross Joyce said, “the issue is particularly important as the NDIS introduces new assessment and administrative processes.”
“Our members are concerned about how standardised assessments and automated decision-making may affect access, eligibility and supports across social services and aged care, and increasingly within the NDIS,” Mr Joyce said.
“People must be able to understand how decisions are made, know that there is always human oversight, challenge decisions where necessary, and have a meaningful right to human review.”
AFDO is calling for disclosure when automation is used, accessible reasons, timely human review, independent testing and reporting on error, bias and discrimination, and co-design with affected communities.
AFDO encourages the Government, Opposition and crossbench to engage constructively with the Bill and the broader need for nationally consistent safeguards. Technology can support better public administration, but it must never weaken rights, transparency or accountability.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ross Joyce
Chief Executive Officer, AFDO
0402 842 040 (text preferred to connect)
ceo@afdo.org.au