Today my department released the final independent assurance review which examined the IT system operating the Targeted Compliance Framework against policy and business rules.
The review includes a:
The review focused on the department’s IT system, and whether rules coded into the system could be clearly traced back to the law and policies governing it. It did not consider systems in partner agencies, such as Services Australia, nor did it examine human decision-making under the framework.
The review includes detailed assessments of business rules underpinning the operating system (with over 200 pages of detail).
The review makes a number of important findings and recommendations, including some urgent actions and longer-term improvements. The system needs to be strengthened to ensure it operates as intended.
Response
The review and its recommendations, together with the findings of the Commonwealth Ombudsman, are being acted on as a priority. The urgent actions identified in the review are underway.
My department is prioritising improvements to our assurance activities. All decision-making processes that might impact a person’s payment across the system are being tested, mapped end to end, clearly documented and assured.
Payment reductions and payment cancellations for failing to meet mutual obligation requirements, continue to be paused.
Our focus is ensuring decisions which suspend a person’s social security payment where a jobseeker fails to meet their mutual obligation requirements, are occurring in alignment with the legislative framework.
Of critical importance is that people subject to these frameworks are often our most vulnerable, including those who are homeless, First Nations people and people with disability.
At all times, the department’s highest priority is to ensure people’s social security payments are not affected except in accordance with the law.
If people have a concern around a decision which has been taken under the mutual obligations and Targeted Compliance Frameworks, they can contact the National Customer Service Line on 1800 805 260 or email NationalCustomerServiceLine@dewr.gov.au.
Background
The Government commissioned an independent assurance review examining the IT system operating the Targeted Compliance Framework against operational policy, business rules and IT to ensure the system is operating as intended.
This follows a number of examples where the department identified that the system was not operating in line with the legislative framework and policies, including in ways that impacted on peoples’ social security payments.
Each incident has been responded to as it arose – see Assuring the integrity of the Targeted Compliance Framework.