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Darren O'Donovan

@DarrenODonovan

Mar 21

As flagged, I'm stepping back from this platform for a little bit. I'll come back for a bit in June, week or so before the #robodebtRC report release. I've a raft of catch up to do, to ensure I'm still on my feet in academia in like 5 years. A time to reset and reassess overall

Please do still reach out by email if you want to check something nerdy. I've come to sense it's that background/checking/deep dive stuff I really enjoy. I think academics can be most useful as a support not 'impactful' talking heads. I'm reflecting on that bundle of stuff.

There have been times I've upset people with my emphasis, what I didn't say, what I chose to say or attribute. I'm sorry about that. I've learnt I've hungover stuff from the last 5 years, copping the 'scholactivist' criticism, delayed outputs, tiredness etc. Time to reflect

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Darren O'Donovan

@DarrenODonovan

Mar 16

As we know there are two theories of what happened for robodebt to start. DSS went along or DSS were had. While we await the final report, I note this May 2016 email chain 2nd hand reporting DSS reactions to the 1st AAT saying 'get payslips'. #RobodebtRC robodebt.royalcommission.gov.au/system/files/e…

I love that DHS' primary concern to the emergence of AAT's questioning robodebt is 'ummm...this may be a lot of work and my unit isn't going to do it, yours is'. This is the now infamous March 2016 ppt that every DSS witness got hit with robodebt.royalcommission.gov.au/system/files/e… #RobodebtRc

@chrisrudge

Tweets like these ensure I, @chrisrudge and others don't lose track of exhibits. They're all called things "re: fw" "new version brief" etc. I 've lost one that refers to three existing legal advices on how you don't need to remediate errors if there's no appeal? #RobodebtRC

Read 6 tweets

Darren O'Donovan

@DarrenODonovan

Mar 9

#RobodebtRC Final Day.
It's goodness that changes minds and the world.
Again and again, we saw what a social security system should be about from the people who suffered. I'm thinking again of Sandra Bevan's description of her job. That's what matters ultimately.

I expect people will be saying thanks to Greggery and Holmes a fair bit today.
I accept us demented, livetweeting loraxes have literally coined a cult of Greggery- (now including merch)
But let's be more subtle. If you watched this, read the next tweet in a Holmes Whisper...

Jess...
Jess...
Please pass our thanks to every person working for the Commission behind the scenes, who we never even saw.
Thank them for taking short term contracts to do this mad sprint.
May everyone involved carry a bit of it with them, and go onto great things #RobodebtRC

Read 72 tweets

Darren O'Donovan

@DarrenODonovan

Mar 8

Block 4 Day 14 #RobodebtRC Unconvinced.

For painful hours yesterday Ms Macleod spoke to the work of a conscientious investigation team. A report that never was. Why did the office not back her? Answers today.

Initial concept design for the Ombudsman, 1979:

That was gutsy evidence yesterday, carrying that emotion, having wanted it different then having to present it. The best proper officer so far

We have our reasons in some ways: time, lack of resource for aat referral, Commonwealth v Commonwealth. Over to Mr Glenn. #RobodebtRC

‘It was a robust exchange between senior officials’ was how Mr Manthorpe described the 2019 decision to yank the generic comments on legality late last night.
The outcome suggests one side was robust, the other distinctly spongey #RobodebtRC

Read 89 tweets

Darren O'Donovan

@DarrenODonovan

Mar 7

#RobodebtRC Block 4 Day 13. Capture.
"... business rules in the OCI that support the debt calculation are comprehensive and accurately capture the legislative and policy requirements"
The Ombudsman. 2017. [2.28]
How far we have come from this milk carton ad from 1982.

It's likely my tweets are going to devolve into 'cranky guy on a park bench' today. The exhibits haven't improved my mood any, cos it isn't just *that* report. It's the issues of interest request, the quarterly liaison meetings. So. many. chances. to. do. something. #RobodebtRC

Best hope are direct exchanges around the drivers here. In the week FOI Commish resigned (tiny media coverage), let's stare at the reality of oversight work. The tied funding, the death of own inquiry, the 'we influence agencies', the 'we are not a policy agency' #robodebtRC

Read 113 tweets

Darren O'Donovan

@DarrenODonovan

Mar 6

#RobodebtRC Block 4 Day 12. “At some points it was going to cost us more to act on that information…The cost of doing that has now decreased." Those were Kathryn Campbell’s first public words about robodebt on June 2 2015. Today we will get her final ones.

The quick insertion of Barry Jackson into the witness list suggests we will be testing the post Xmas 2017 handover. Everything had been spooling up for AGS legal advice, then in true APS form… a printed email, an absence of recollection, and…nothing. #RobodebtRC

Across four years we find sprawling inconsistencies, missing paper, rampant callous indifference. But one absolute iron clad consistency:

Don’t trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.

Ms Campbell’s been described as trouble. She gets her right of reply today.
#RobodebtRC

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