## ‘Lost their way’: 12 public servants breached code of conduct over robodebt ### Senior executives among 12 public servants who breached code of conduct over robodebt scheme **12 public servants, including senior executives, have been found to have breached the code of conduct in their handling of the robodebt scheme.** The Department of Social Services was embroiled in the scandal that saw hundreds of thousands of Australians wrongfully issued with debt notices, **leading to significant financial and emotional distress.** **A report by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) found that the department's "robodebt" program was poorly conceived, poorly managed, and poorly executed."** The report found that the department had failed to properly consider the impact of the program on vulnerable Australians. It also found that the department had not taken adequate steps to ensure that the program was fair and equitable. **The ANAO report made a number of recommendations to improve the department's handling of debt recovery, including:** - **Establishing clear and transparent processes for issuing debt notices** - **Providing better support to vulnerable Australians who are issued with debt notices** - **Improving the department's complaints handling process** The Department of Social Services has accepted the recommendations of the ANAO report. It is now working to implement the recommendations to improve the department's handling of debt recovery. **The robodebt scandal is a reminder of the importance of public servants adhering to the code of conduct.** Public servants have a responsibility to act with integrity and to put the interests of the public first. The robodebt scandal has shown that when public servants fail to meet this responsibility, **the consequences can be devastating.** ### The findings of the ANAO report are a serious indictment of the Department of Social Services. The department failed to properly consider the impact of the robodebt program on vulnerable Australians. It also failed to take adequate steps to ensure that the program was fair and equitable. **The robodebt scandal is a reminder of the importance of public servants adhering to the code of conduct.** Public servants have a responsibility to act with integrity and to put the interests of the public first. The robodebt scandal has shown that when public servants fail to meet this responsibility, the consequences can be devastating.
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