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s 22(1)
 
OFFICIAL 
From: s 22(1)
 (OSI)  
Sent: Thursday, 22 June 2023 5:11 PM 
To: s 22(1)
@osi.gov.au> 
Cc: OSI s 47E(d)
@osi.gov.au> 
Subject: For your review: OSI Mandatory training ‐ revised paper and supporting documents [SEC=OFFICIAL] 
OFFICIAL 
Hi s 22(1)  
Based on our discussion with Helen, HR team and A/g CFO s 22(1)
, I have: 
‐  s 22(1)
 
‐  s 22(1)
  
‐ 
created Brown Bag lunch list (ADOC23/5811) 
Can you please review these and see whether it is reflective of the meeting and thought‐process? 
s 22(1)
  
Thank you. 
Kind regards, 
s 22(1)   
s 22(1)
 
Office of the Special Investigator  
P: s 22(1)
 | W: www.osi.gov.au 
E: s 22(1)
@osi.gov.au 
s 22(1)
 
OFFICIAL 
2
Office of the Special Investigator - Documents released under FOI24/02


Document 2 - Page 1 of 1
Brown Bag Lunches 
2023-2024 
We are trialling ‘Brown Bag Lunches’ to be held every second month, as a casual, non-mandatory opportunity to 
learning and discuss issues that may impact OSI staff. 
Date 
Topic 
Presenter 
Duration 
Location 
s 22(1)
June 2024 
Learnings from the  TBA 
TBC 
TBC (online option 
Royal Commission 
available) 
into the RoboDebt 
Scheme 
August 2023 
OFFICIAL
Office of the Special Investigator - Documents released under FOI24/02

Document 3 - Page 1 of 1
s 22(1)
 (OSI)
From:
s 22(1)
 (OSI)
s 
Sent:
Thursday, 27 July 2023 3:36 PM
2
To:
Daniels, Helen (OSI); Butler, Kieran (OSI); s 22(1)
(OSI)
2
Cc:
s 22(1)
(OSI);s 22(1)
(OSI);s 22(1)
(OSI); s 22(1) (  (OSI); s 22(1)
 (OSI); s 22(1)
 (OSI); s 22(1)
 (OSI); s 22(1)
 (OSI); 
1
s 22(1)
 
(OSI); s 22(1)
 (OSI)
)
Subject:
AGS Understanding and navigating the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme: outcomes 
and recommendations [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Attachments:
AGS Understanding and navigating.one; AGS Understanding and navigating (as Web Page).mht
OFFICIAL 
Hi all, 
On Tuesday evening I attended  and AGS session on “Integrity and ethics: Understanding and navigating the Royal 
Commission into the Robodebt Scheme outcomes and recommendations”. 
For interest attached are my notes. Sitting and listening I felt very reassured by the processes and approach OSI 
takes in delivering its mandate ‐ a stance taken prior to the Commission delivering its report. 
Very happy to discuss. 
Cheers 
s 22(1) 
s 22(1)
 
Director, Governance and Security 
Office of the Special Investigator 
P: s 22(1)
 | s 22(1)
 
E: s 22(1)
@osi.gov.au    
OFFICIAL 
1
Office of the Special Investigator - Documents released under FOI24/02
Document 4 - Page 1 of 1
Facilitator: Matt Blunn ‐ AGS
AGS Understanding and navigating the Royal Commission 
Kathryn Haigh ‐ FAS AGD
Justin Davidson ‐ Deputy Chief Solicitor
into the Robodebt Scheme: outcomes and 
Rodger Prince ‐ Senior Executive 
Lawyer
recommendations
Tuesday, 25 July 2023
3:51 PM
*Not legal advice or Government position*
Establishment overview.
57 recommendations
How did this happen?
- Time and scrutiny of decision making
- Media narrative
- Separation of legislative responsibility (Social Services) and policy implementation (DHS)
Rec re vulnerable people
- Communication ‐ initially confusing and cryptic letter. Recipient wouldn't know what to do with it. 
Also didn't provide warning of average wage approach. Also didn't consider whether the letter 
would be received ‐ no regard to time past.
- Onous on the recipient to identify and resolve discrepancies.
- Approach was electronic. No regard to remote or persons needing assistance.
- Stereotyping of welfare recipients as untrustworthy and cheats.
- Centrelink knew of vulnerability and did nothing to act on that.
Budget processes
- Failure to identify and manage legal risk.
○ NPP that went to ERC went without indicating leg change was required (averaging of ATO 
data)
- When dealing with legal risk, use obvious language. What is required, at what point and by whom?
Data matching and exchanges
- Personal information & Secrecy provisions. Protocols and frameworks in place to manage this.
- Despite this, Commissioner found that governance still not sufficient
Automation
- Robodebt scheme used Automation not AI.
- No human check of discrepancy. If no interaction, the automation produced a debt notice and 
penalties.
- OAIC guide on automation provides clear guidance.
Commonwealth lawyers
- Professional independence and sharing of significant legal advice did not occur.
- In‐house lawyers instructed to stick to DSS and DHS TPs. Meaning could not be independent.
- Did not act on concerned voiced by legal experts.
- Siloed culture ‐ in‐house lawyers did not consider legal risks beyond that which was specifically 
asked of them.
- Authors pressed internally to amend advice to align with Senior Officers' direction.
- Importance of finalising legal advice.
All Commonwealth lawyers should familiarise themselves with the Legal Services Directions. 
Requirement to report legal issues to OLSC in AGD.
Missed opportunities to correct the path. 2017 Cth Ombudsman report and outcomes from AAT appeals 
(noting these were not public, but were available to the agency). Rec on Agency Heads to assist 
Ombudsman staff to conduct investigations.
Cabinet records
- If available to public, could have influenced public discourse.
APS Reform (section 7)
- Inadequate record keeping. Particularly around significant decisions.
- Transparent and considered decision making needs to be supported by documentation.
- Work as one Commonwealth
Closing remarks:
- AGS soon to publish new briefings on duties to the court and professional ethics.
- Matt Blunn asked Justin Davidson one change he personally will be making as a result of the 
report.  Justin answered he was a bit struck by the record keeping piece and will improve his file 
notes.
Office of the Special Investigator - Documents released under FOI24/02
20230727 1535 - Attachment 1 - AGS Understanding and navigating Page 1

30/01/2024, 10:27
Director-General all staff message: July 2023
Document 5 - Page 1 of 2
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Published 8/2/2023
Director-General all staff message: July 2023
Colleagues
July was another busy month for the OSI and I am very pleased with the progress being made as a
result of your ongoing commitment and collaboration.
s 22(1)
s 47E(d)
Office of the Special Investigator - Documents released under FOI24/02
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30/01/2024, 10:27
Director-General all staff message: July 2023
s 22(1)
 
Document 5 - Page 2 of 2
s 22(1)
Finally, I would like to encourage you to read an open letter from PM&C Secretary Davis
and APS Commissioner de Brouwer on the recent release of the findings from the Royal
Commission into the Robodebt Scheme. The findings have serious implications for the
broader public service and integrity, accountability and stewardship will be the key drivers
as the taskforce works through the findings in an open and constructive way. 
It has been a very busy time for everyone, and I extend my appreciation for your professionalism in
progressing our work and I look forward to working with you in the next half of the year. 
Chris
Director-General
Comments
s 47E(d)
Office of the Special Investigator - Documents released under FOI24/02
Director-General-all-staff-message--July-2023.aspx
2/2
Document 6 - Page 1 of 2
s 22(1)
(OSI)
From:
Moraitis, Chris (OSI)
Sent:
Wednesday, 2 August 2023 11:10 AM
To:
[OSI - All Staff s 47E(d)
Subject:
CM: Director-General all staff update: July 2023 [SEC=OFFICIAL]
OFFICIAL 
Colleagues 
July was another busy month for the OSI and I am very pleased with the progress being 
made as a result of your ongoing commitment and collaboration. 
s 22(1)
Office of the Special Investigator - Documents released under FOI24/02
Document 6 - Page 2 of 2
s 22(1)
 Finally I would like to encourage you to read an open letter from PM&C Secretary
Davis and APS Commissioner de Brouwer on the recent release of the findings
from the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme. The findings have serious
implications for the broader public service and integrity, accountability and
stewardship will be the key drivers as the taskforce works through the findings in an
open and constructive way.
It has been a very busy time for everyone and I extend my appreciation for your 
professionalism in progressing our work and I look forward to working with you in the next 
half of the year.  
Chris 
Director-General 
OFFICIAL 
2
Office of the Special Investigator - Documents released under FOI24/02
Document 7 - Page 1 of 2
s 22(1)
 (OSI)
From:
Daniels, Helen (OSI)
Sent:
Monday, 13 November 2023 2:13 PM
To:
[OSI - All Staff s 47E(d)
Subject:
FW: FOR INFO - Government’s response to the Report of the Royal Commission into the 
Robodebt Scheme [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Attachments:
gov-response-royal-commission-robodebt-scheme.pdf
OFFICIAL 
Good afternoon 
Given the importance of the recommendations of the Robodebt Royal Commission for all public servants please see 
attached the Government’s  response to the 56 recommendations. 
Many are directed at improving the social services system and decision‐making.  There are also recommendations 
that go to the role of government lawyers, legal advice, the Legal Services Directions and the role of AGS and OLSC. 
I would encourage you to read through some of these responses as their implementation will help address improved 
integrity in the APS. 
Helen 
OFFICIAL 
From: s 22(1)
@osi.gov.au>  
Sent: Monday, 13 November 2023 1:30 PM 
To: Daniels, Helen (OSI) s 47E(d)
@osi.gov.au>; s 22(1)
@osi.gov.au>; Moraitis, 
Chris (OSI) s 47E(d)
@osi.gov.au>; Butler, Kieran (OSI) s 47E(d)
@osi.gov.au> 
Cc: OSI s 47E(d)
@osi.gov.au>; s 22(1)
@osi.gov.au> 
Subject: FOR INFO ‐ Government’s response to the Report of the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme 
[SEC=OFFICIAL] 
OFFICIAL 
Hi all, 
You may have seen the press conference with the Minister for the Public Service, the AG and Minister for 
Government Services in the last hour to announce the Government has accepted all 56 recommendations from the 
Robodebt Royal Commission. 
A PDF of the Government Response is attached.  
At the press conference, the Public Service Minister said there are more than a dozen investigations that are 
underway following the robo‐debt royal commission – there were 16 referrals to the Public Service Commissioner, 
all of which have started as an investigation. The Attorney‐General and Minister Gallagher would not comment on 
whether there would be any criminal proceedings into the referrals. 
/// 
https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/government‐response‐royal‐commission‐robodebt‐scheme  
Today, the Australian Government released its response to the report of the Royal Commission 
into the Robodebt Scheme. 
1
Office of the Special Investigator - Documents released under FOI24/02
Document 7 - Page 2 of 2
The Australian Government has carefully considered the Royal Commission’s report and 
recommendations. 
The Government has accepted or accepted in principle all 56 recommendations made by the 
Royal Commission. 
The Government Response commits to action to implement the recommendations, and reinforces 
the Government’s commitments to improve trust in government, deliver strong institutions, invest 
in a capable public sector and ensure people are at the centre of policy development and 
government service delivery. 
Additional funding is being provided to support implementation of the Government Response. 
/// 
Kind regards, 
s 22(1)  
s 22(1)
 
Director, Communication | Office of the Special Investigator 
P: s 22(1)
 | M: s 22(1)
 
E: s 22(1)
@osi.gov.au | s 47E(d)@osi.gov.au 
OFFICIAL 
2
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30/01/2024, 10:27
Message to all staff - APS Integrity Taskforce Report
Document 8 - Page 1 of 2
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Published 11/17/2023
Message to all staff - APS Integrity Taskforce Report
Colleagues,
Today the Secretaries Board published the APS Integrity Taskforce report ‘Louder than Words: An
APS Integrity Action Plan’.
Integrity is deeply important to our work in the public service. It underpins the trust of the
Australian public, who rely on us to serve their interests and deliver the best outcomes for Australia.
The Secretaries Board is committed to promoting a pro-integrity culture where all staff feel
confident to contribute ideas, provide frank and independent advice and report mistakes. In this
spirit, Secretaries Board set up the APS Integrity Taskforce.
The Taskforce was asked to take a ‘bird’s-eye’ view of the APS integrity landscape, to identify gaps
and look for opportunities to learn from and build upon the important work already progressing
across the service. The work of the Taskforce complements the Integrity pillar of the government’s
APS Reform agenda and the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Commission. It is
particularly pertinent in the context of the release of the Government’s Response to the Robodebt
Royal Commission this week.
We encourage all staff to reflect on how integrity shapes our work for the Australian public.
The ‘Integrity Good Practice Guide’ includes a range of practical examples of how you can
contribute to a pro-integrity culture.  
Work to implement the Taskforce’s recommendations is already underway and will ensure we have
the right frameworks in place to recruit and to recognise people whose behaviour is consistent with
the public service values. A revised SES Performance Leadership Framework gives equal weighting
to leadership behaviours as well as outcomes. The APS Academy’s Integrity Masterclass is running
regularly for SES leaders. There are also measures to focus on ensuring legality across APS practices
and government policies, programs and services, reinforcing the importance of good
recordkeeping, and enhanced contract management and procurement practices. 
s 47E(d)
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Message to all staff - APS Integrity Taskforce Report
Document 8 - Page 2 of 2
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to embodying the APS Values in every aspect of your
work.
Professor Glyn Davis AC
Secretary 
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Dr Gordon de Brouwer PSM
Australian Public Service Commissioner
Comments
s 47E(d)
Office of the Special Investigator - Documents released under FOI24/02
/Message-to-all-staff---APS-Integrity-Taskforce-Report.aspx
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