The Westminster Tradition

Unpacking lessons for the public service, starting with the Robodebt Royal Commission. 
In 2019, after three years, Robodebt was found to be unlawful. The Royal Commission process found it was also immoral and wildly inaccurate. 

Ultimately the Australian Government was forced to pay $1.8bn back to more than 470,000 Australians. 

In this podcast we dive deep into public policy failures like Robodebt and the British Post Office scandal - how they start, why they're hard to stop, and the public service lessons we shouldn't forget.

From hot mess to delivered: Universal Credit and delivering system wide reform (Part 1)
Jun 10, 2025 – 40:07
The Vanstone Files: Unpacking Ministerial Power
May 27, 2025 – 44:41
The Hon Amanda Vanstone AO - Inside the Westminster Machine
May 13, 2025 – 01:11:40
DOGE or GROSS (Getting Rid of Stupid Stuff) 😩: the touchy subject of efficiency in the public service
Apr 29, 2025 – 59:00
Picking the Scab of Recruitment - Part 2 'The Employer'
Apr 15, 2025 – 37:12
🗳️ Election special 🗳️ Caretaker conventions, IGBs and some 🥳 vox pops 🥳
Apr 1, 2025 – 51:05
Picking the Scab of Recruitment - Part 1 'The Applicant'
Mar 18, 2025 – 40:53
Oakden aged care scandal part 3 - “Boss on the floor” … or, how bad things stayed secret
Mar 4, 2025 – 35:02
REDUX - What the NACC is going on? Updates on Robodebt and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)
Feb 21, 2025 – 34:17
Oakden aged care scandal part 2 - there’s no $$$ in limbo
Feb 18, 2025 – 45:10
Oakden aged care scandal part 1 - good in a crisis (...bad on the follow through)
Feb 4, 2025 – 35:15
Ask a Secretary! Mike Kaiser (former) head of the Department of Premier and Cabinet (Qld)
Jan 14, 2025 – 41:34
Mike Kaiser, former DG of Department of Premier and Cabinet (Qld)
Dec 31, 2024 – 48:36
The State of the Service - drawing the threads from Coombs to Thodey to where we are now
Dec 17, 2024 – 34:26
What the NACC is going on? Updates on Robodebt and the National Anti-Corruption Commission
Dec 2, 2024 – 32:35
Mr Bates v Post Office part 8 - ‘The One Where The Report is a Slide Deck’
Nov 19, 2024 – 41:27
Mr Bates v Post Office part 7 - ‘The One Where The Inquiries Go Nowhere’
Nov 5, 2024 – 35:01
TWT Ask Us Anything! Part 2 - culture and integrity agencies
Oct 15, 2024 – 31:13
TWT Ask Us Anything! Part 1 - trust in government, and how we organise ourselves
Oct 1, 2024 – 29:33
Finally, the APSC has published its findings about Robodebt: what did they find, and where to from here?
Sep 16, 2024 – 47:00
Mr Bates v Post Office part 6 - information dead ends and accountability sinks
Aug 13, 2024 – 41:48
Mr Bates v Post Office part 5 - prosecuting the innocent
Jul 30, 2024 – 42:33
The Hon John Hill, on being a Minister
Jul 9, 2024 – 01:02:53
Andrew Podger AO: Is Thodey public sector reform on Steroids or Valium?
Jun 25, 2024 – 01:00:38
Andrew Podger AO: the induction, tenure and bravery of Secretaries
Jun 11, 2024 – 01:00:02
The Essendon Footy Club supplements scandal (part 3): regulation in a changing world
May 28, 2024 – 36:52
The Essendon Footy Club supplements scandal (part 2): what’s it like to investigate Australia’s biggest sports codes?
May 13, 2024 – 40:59
The Royal Commission we should have? The 2013 Essendon Football Club supplements scandal
Apr 29, 2024 – 34:00
Sue Vardon AO, inaugural CE of Centrelink: On learning while in the job
Apr 16, 2024 – 37:40
Sue Vardon AO, inaugural CE of Centrelink: On lawyers
Mar 30, 2024 – 27:08
'Do it now, get it right later': payment (in)accuracy in Centrelink - setting the stage for Robodebt
Mar 19, 2024 – 31:20
Mr Bates v Post Office part 4 - the roll out of Horizon
Mar 4, 2024 – 33:05
Mr Bates v Post Office part 3 - accepting a lemon
Feb 20, 2024 – 28:14
Mr Bates v Post Office part 2 - a very poor procurement
Feb 6, 2024 – 31:55
Mr Bates v Post Office - shades of Robodebt?
Jan 24, 2024 – 38:19
Bonus episode: Sue Vardon AO - inaugural CE of Centrelink (1997-2004)
Dec 26, 2023 – 01:31:59
16. Taking responsibility - lessons from Robodebt
Dec 1, 2023 – 47:37
Bonus Episode: Dr Darren O'Donovon on centering the victims of Robodebt, the fragmentation of knowledge and accountability, and the creation of moral discomfort
Nov 16, 2023 – 01:51:49
15. Behavioural insights in Robodebt: at last, an argument!
Nov 8, 2023 – 26:37
14. The Grinch that stole Christmas
Oct 17, 2023 – 36:37
13. Pink Batts and Robodebt - lessons not learned
Oct 9, 2023 – 29:18
12. Robodebt as algorithm (part 3) - Jurassic Park ICT and AI
Sep 5, 2023 – 31:02
11. Robodebt as algorithm (part 2) - random number generator decision-making
Aug 22, 2023 – 30:54
10. Robodebt as algorithm (part 1) - junk data and Swiss cheese
Aug 5, 2023 – 30:24
9. Why is it hard to hear whistleblowers? The lessons from Robodebt
Aug 4, 2023 – 29:15
Bonus Episode: The Robodebt Report is out - early thoughts and reflections
Jul 13, 2023 – 36:12
8. Advice is just advice - what the lawyers knew about Robodebt
Jul 1, 2023 – 29:27
7. 'A bit of a fixer-upper' - DHS and the botched launch of Robodebt
Jul 1, 2023 – 27:21
6. When you discover you've been had - DSS, faux collegiality and the second missed opportunity to stop Robodebt
Jul 1, 2023 – 23:11
5. How *not* to stop something - DSS, the Columbia effect, and the first missed opportunity to stop Robodebt
Jul 1, 2023 – 25:16