Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 4h

not sure what happened to that one - would be turned into a dashboard now

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 8h

Dept of Education has been making incorrect Child Care Subsidy (CCS) entitlement decisions - says ICT system does not align with the law. Some people have been over or underpaid CCS for up to 2 weeks.
Bill will retrospectively validate previous decisions: parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/sea...

Screenshot of text from p. 7 of the Explanatory Memorandum for the Bill:
"However, the dates of effect in the CCS system for three types of decisions concerning the reconciliation of CCS entitlements do not align with the dates of effect under the Family Assistance Administration Act. As a result of the discrepancy, individuals who have failed to meet the deadlines have either been over or underpaid CCS for up to two weeks.

The retrospective amendments ensure that the relevant decisions for CCS reconciliations were validly made. The amendments waive any debts that may have arisen as a result of the misalignment. This prevents the need for recovery action to be taken against families who were overpaid. The amendments also mean that families were not underpaid as a result of the discrepancy. To mitigate any potential adverse impact on individuals, the amendments provide a mechanism for individuals to seek compensation if they can show that the retrospective amendments resulted in an acquisition of their property other than on just terms."

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Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 8h

AIHW's Australia's Welfare 2025 report and data is out: www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data...

www.aihw.gov.au

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Tom Clark @tom-clark.bsky.social · 12h

In one crisp para — & the 2 charts he highlights — @chrisgiles.ft.com bursts a huge number of “welfare” myths www.ft.com/content/ee67...

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Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 18h

When you’re talking to the 18-25 demo

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Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 20h

Ever informative J-$h€p @jillesheppard.bsky.social on Hack today worth a listen www.abc.net.au/triplej/prog...

One Nation voters, soaring fuel prices + the Aussie punters taking on American football - triple j

Support for Pauline Hanson's One Nation party is surging. So why are more people backing them, and will it last? Also, fuel prices can vary a lot depending on where you live. Now the ACCC is facing p...

www.abc.net.au

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Nobody Deserves Poverty @nobodyinpoverty.bsky.social · 1d

Wow.
"The corrected version of a Deloitte report to the Albanese government reissued by the big consulting firm after it was found to include AI-generated mistakes contains new citation errors and other flaws in referencing the academic work it relies on"

www.afr.com/politics/fed...

More errors, ‘irrelevant citations’ in Deloitte’s revised AI report

Academics question how AI-generated “gobbledegook” can be justified after the fact by irrelevant citations, as the big four firm republishes its welfare report.

www.afr.com

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Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 2d

quote from @jeremypoxon.bsky.social: 'gotta give it to Hendo' [Ronald Henderson]

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Jeremy Poxon @jeremypoxon.bsky.social · 2d

this is today at 1pm btw www.eventbrite.com.au/e/unfinished...

Unfinished Business: 50 Years After Henderson

An initiative of the Australian Social Policy Association and the Australian Journal of Social Issues, as part of Anti-Poverty Week.

www.eventbrite.com.au

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ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 2d

Cape Verde will play in the men's FIFA World Cup for the first time after beating Eswatini 3-0 to win its group in African qualifying for the 2026 showpiece.

Cape Verde becomes second-smallest nation to qualify for FIFA World Cup

Cape Verde will play in the men's FIFA World Cup for the first time after beating Eswatini 3-0 to win its group in African qualifying for the 2026 showpiece.

www.abc.net.au

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ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 2d

We get detailed measurements of population, participation and productivity. Advocates want to add a fourth "p" — poverty — so we can understand our economy.

Poverty is about more than income, but that is what we measure

We get detailed measurements of population, participation and productivity. Advocates want to add a fourth "p" — poverty — so we can understand our economy.

www.abc.net.au

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Bruce Bradbury @brucebradbury.bsky.social · 3d

I'll be talking about Australian poverty trends tomorrow:

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Peter Whiteford @peterwhiteford.bsky.social · 3d

The latest report from the ACOSS/UNSW Poverty and Inequality Partnership shows that 3.7m people are experiencing poverty. That number represents 1 in 7 people. Read the report at bit.ly/povertyoverv...

Poverty in Australia 2025: Overview – Poverty and Inequality

bit.ly

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Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 4d

I didn’t even realise this existed til last week. But not hopeful for any vegan options

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El Gibbs @bluntshovels.bsky.social · 5d

genuinely wild ombudsman report into the NDIS participant service guarantee, including disagreeing with the agency about whether they have delivered on it, and that rules haven't been finalised since 2022! [very good plain English report too btw]

www.ombudsman.gov.au/__data/asset...

www.ombudsman.gov.au

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ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 6d

The quake hit in the Mindanao region at a depth of 62 kilometres below ground level and could cause hazardous tsunami waves along coasts within 300km of the epicentre, seismology authorities say.

Breaking: Magnitude-7.4 earthquake strikes Philippines, sparking tsunami warnings

The quake hit in the Mindanao region at a depth of 62 kilometres below ground level and could cause hazardous tsunami waves along coasts within 300km of the epicentre, seismology authorities say.

www.abc.net.au

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Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 7d

Services Australia told Estimates last night that they will soon provide access to documents on the FOI disclosure log directly from the website (rather than having to request the doc and wait for it to be provided).
This is something I've been complaining about for years (at least since 2018)

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Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 7d

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations before Senate Estimates today - cross portfolio/corporate on now. Employment Services scheduled for around 2pm www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WId...

Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee [Part 1] | 09/10/2025

YouTube video by Australian Parliament House Streaming Portal

www.youtube.com

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Rohan Alexander @rohanalexander.bsky.social · 7d

Updated Australian Hansard data (1998-2025) thanks to the incredible work of Lindsay Katz!
zenodo.org/records/1729...

A new, comprehensive database of all proceedings of the Australian Parliamentary Debates (1998-2025)

This database contains data on the proceedings from each sitting day in the Australian Parliament by the House of Representatives from 02 March 1998 to 31 July 2025, in parquet form. These data were p...

zenodo.org

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Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 8d

Income apportionment validation and resolution scheme Bill scheduled to be debated (and potentially passed) after question time in the House of Reps today

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 15d

Parliamentary Library analysis of the Social Security +Other Leg. Amdt. (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025 has been published. The Bill validates historical use of income apportionment, establishes a resolution scheme and changes debt waiver provisions. parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/dow...

Screenshot of Key Points section of Bills Digest.

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Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 8d

Lots of social security stuff in this Bill - including changes to information sharing provisions, changes to rounding rules + indexation arrangements, and new provisions setting out how employment income is attributed when a person moves to a new payment parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/sea...

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Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 8d

Reminder that Services Australia is now in the Finance Portfolio so will be up tonight at Senate Estimates at around 750pm in the Finance and Public Admin Committee - after the Future Fund and before the ASC (formerly Australian Submarine Corporation). Can watch here www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Eve...

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Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 8d

The federal Minister of Social Services would need to issue legislative instrument(s) to activate the school attendance and enrolment income management measure - e.g. to declare primary and secondary school areas, determine conditions, set the % to be quarantined (currently 100%).

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 9d

NT to activate school attendance income management measure. While provided for in the legislation, I don't believe it's been used previously. There were other program which could suspend or cancel payments - e.g. SEAM in the NT which ended in 2017. nit.com.au/06-10-2025/2...

NT government to refer parents of truant children to income management

The Northern Territory Government will refer parents whose children do not attend school to income management, saying the measure is part of the CLP's plan to reduce crime and strengthen community saf...

nit.com.au

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Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 8d

As at 29/8/25 there were 32,354 on income management (IM):
- 9,938 on old IM (BasicsCard) and 22,416 on enhanced IM (SmartCard)
- 8.1% (2,649) were voluntary, the rest under compulsory measures.
- around 82% (26,450) on IM identify as Indigenous data.gov.au/data/dataset...

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ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 8d

The Education Standards Board has closed Edge Early Learning Centre at Plympton for 90 days following an investigation into reports of "inadequate supervision" of children.

SA childcare centre 'unsuitable to open' amid supervision concerns

The Education Standards Board has closed Edge Early Learning Centre at Plympton for 90 days following an investigation into reports of "inadequate supervision" of children.

www.abc.net.au

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Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 8d

As at 29/8/25 there were 32,354 on income management (IM):
- 9,938 on old IM (BasicsCard) and 22,416 on enhanced IM (SmartCard)
- 8.1% (2,649) were voluntary, the rest under compulsory measures.
- around 82% (26,450) on IM identify as Indigenous data.gov.au/data/dataset...

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Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 9d

NT to activate school attendance income management measure. While provided for in the legislation, I don't believe it's been used previously. There were other program which could suspend or cancel payments - e.g. SEAM in the NT which ended in 2017. nit.com.au/06-10-2025/2...

NT government to refer parents of truant children to income management

The Northern Territory Government will refer parents whose children do not attend school to income management, saying the measure is part of the CLP's plan to reduce crime and strengthen community saf...

nit.com.au

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Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 10d

The income apportionment Bill is down for debate in the House of Reps this week

Michael Klapdor @mklapdor.bsky.social · 15d

Parliamentary Library analysis of the Social Security +Other Leg. Amdt. (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025 has been published. The Bill validates historical use of income apportionment, establishes a resolution scheme and changes debt waiver provisions. parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/dow...

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Jack Smalligan @jsmalligan.bsky.social · 10d

The Wa Post has issued an important story on an upcoming major SSA disability regulation that would especially affect older disabled workers: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
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Trump plan would limit disability benefits for older Americans

Trump administration officials are considering eliminating age as a factor in deciding whether someone is capable of working.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Tom Studans @maximumwelfare.bsky.social · 10d

#BREAKING 🚨 Deloitte to refund government, admits using AI in $440k report into mutual obligations issues.

Fake quotes from Federal Court case that ended Robodebt deleted from new report in Friday DEWR dump.

📰 AFR

✍️ @paulkarp.bsky.social

✍️ @edmundtadros.bsky.social

🗣️ @chrisrudge.bsky.social

HEADLINE: Deloitte to refund government, admits AI errors in $440k report

Deloitte Australia will issue a partial refund to the federal government after admitting that artificial intelligence had been used in the creation of a $440,000 report littered with errors including three nonexistent academic references and a made-up quote from a Federal Court judgement.

A new version of the report for the Department of Workplace Relations (DEWR) was quietly uploaded to the department’s website on Friday, ahead of a long weekend across much of Australia. It features more than a dozen deletions of nonexistent references and footnotes, a rewritten reference list, and corrections to multiple typographic errors.

(photo of Deloitte Australia HQ) Deloitte Australia has made almost $25 million worth of deals with the Department of Workplace Relations since 2021. Photographer Dion Georgopoulos

The first version of the report, about the IT system used to automate penalties in the welfare system such as pauses on the dole, was published in July. Less than a month later, Deloitte was forced to investigate the report after University of Sydney academic Dr Christopher Rudge highlighted multiple errors in the document.

At the time, Rudge speculated that the errors may have been caused by what is known as “hallucinations” by generative AI. This is where the technology responds to user queries by inventing references and quotes. Deloitte declined to comment.

The incident is embarrassing for Deloitte as it earns a growing part of its $US70.5 billion ($107 billion) in annual global revenue by providing advice and training clients and executives about AI. The firm also boasts about its widespread use of the technology within its global operations, while emphasising the need to always have humans review any output of AI.

SUBHEADING: Deleted references, footnotes

The revised report has deleted a dozen references to two nonexistent reports by Professor Lisa Burton Crawford, a law professor at the University of Sydney, that were included in the first version. Two references to a nonexistent report by Professor Björn Regnell, of Lund University in Sweden, were also deleted in the new report.

Also deleted was a made up reference to a court decision in a leading robo-debt case, Deanna Amato v Commonwealth.

The new report has also deleted a reference to “Justice Davis” (a misspelling of Justice Jennifer Davies) and the made-up quote from the nonexistent paragraphs 25 and 26 in the judgement: “The burden rests on the decision-maker to be satisfied on the evidence that the debt is owed. A person’s statutory entitlements cannot lawfully be reduced based on an assumption unsupported by evidence.”

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