Cat Walker

So sorry for your loss, Asher

I wish Labor would just own the reality of their policy choices.

Cutting social protection is a fast track to social murder.

Letting algorithms or prescriptive lists do the dirty work of denying genuine needs does not change that.

They're relying on the public accepting this new normal.

#Auspol

I tried to FOI this app, which the Department said it built to track job provider punishments. It turns out it doesn't exist, and they've lied to the Commonwealth Ombudsman www.crikey.com.au/2026/02/27/r...

The government claimed it was monitoring dodgy job service providers using an app. It doesn't exist 'What this exposes is just how little the department is prepared to do, even after two bootings from the Ombudsman.'

I'm at it again: great ontological debate about welfare 'compliance' app govt told Ombudsman it built to monitor dodgy job service providers but which doesn't exist. No documents point to it. Instead they use 'existing processes'. And haven't they been so effective. www.crikey.com.au/2026/02/27/r...

‘I did this to help and now I’m the one who’s going to need help’: NDIS call handlers describe pressure cooker workplace Serco-run operation regularly fails because staff are not properly trained and pushed to meet call volume targets, a senior NDIA employee says

The hiring and training process shouldn’t be seen as the main issue here. The problem is the contractor is Serco and their hires are being employed to run a neoliberal outsourced approach to the NDIS. Of course they’re demoralised and traumatised www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Villamanta's full submission to the inquiry here: www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStor...

Alt text: Screenshot of a parliamentary submission by Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service. The header text is titled “Inquiry into the administration of the National Disability Insurance Scheme – Submission 36.” A large green heading reads “Executive Summary.” The text discusses recent attention on the sustainability of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and efforts to prevent fraud, while reporting significant distress, harm and deaths among disabled Australians linked to recent administrative changes. A highlighted sentence reads: “how many deaths of disabled Australians is an acceptable number to achieve scheme sustainability?” The following paragraph states that 6,131 participants died in the past year, with higher-than-expected deaths among those with high support needs, and notes that the Australian Government Actuary increased mortality assumptions. Another highlighted sentence states: “It is not the role of the Agency to simply accept an increase in mortality without understanding whether changes to legislation, policy and practice are causing people to die.” The final line says an inquiry must address both safe delivery of the scheme and prevention of fraud and loss.

The simplest ethical question from Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service: How many deaths of disabled Australians is an acceptable number to achieve scheme sustainability?

Actuary advice on increased mortality? ✅

Without asking whether #NDIS reforms “are causing people to die.”

#Auspol

I do wonder if Scott Britton has to put Scott Britton on the risk registers he maintains for the federal prosecutor’s office

Any word on Ryman, given NDIA are now using an identical informal reconsideration process for pre- and post-payment claim reviews, just without those formal review rights?

Also, note how easy it is to correctly report the role of Renée Leon 'whom the royal commission found misled the Commonwealth Ombudsman and oversaw an “excessive” delay in securing legal advice from the Solicitor-General'.

Exclusive: Robodebt architect remains employed in a senior governance role in the public service Scott Britton was a national manager of the customer compliance branch in the Department of Human Services and signed a June 2014 minute that first detailed how robodebt would work.

In his new gig Britton was hiring contact for an assistant manager of audit and risk position seeking a “detail-oriented” person to provide “operational support and specialist advice... in accordance with relevant legislation, policy and procedures”. Just as well! www.crikey.com.au/2026/02/20/r...

Exclusive: Robodebt architect remains employed in a senior governance role in the public service Scott Britton was a national manager of the customer compliance branch in the Department of Human Services and signed a June 2014 minute that first detailed how robodebt would work.

From me: The architect of the Robodebt scheme, who was told it was unlawful even as he delivered it for the government, is still employed in the public service, now at the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. And in a senior governance and risk role. www.crikey.com.au/2026/02/20/r...

“If [HCA] affirms the majority’s approach, it will confirm our politicians have allowed the bluntest forms of conditionality to leach into core aspects of the social security law. Debts may contain elements of administrative fiction, shaped by incomplete evidence and the confusion of recipients.”

Alt text: A koala sleeps wedged in the fork of a eucalyptus tree, its fluffy grey body slumped forward with one arm dangling down the smooth, pale trunk. The tree’s bark peels in cream and reddish-brown strips, and green gum leaves frame the scene against a bright blue sky.

Everything is f*cked.

But on return from a rare medical outing, I was welcomed home by a sleepy new Guardian of the Front Gate 🐨

First I've seen here in over 2yrs and 25° cooler than recent heatwaves, but hope it makes its way to one of our more sheltered spots...

#Koala #WildOz #Australia

“The National Anti-Corruption Commission has circulated draft findings to individuals referred to it by the robodebt royal commission, signalling that the investigative phase is effectively complete and a final determination into whether those individuals engaged in corrupt conduct is imminent”

Screenshot of the newsletter which reads: On 5 March, the Australian Government Solicitor provided draft prospects advice to DHS about the Masterton matter which was passed to Leon as Secretary. Two things are important here. The AGS had been briefed that the department did not want to have the Federal Court rule on the legality of the Online Compliance Initiative (Robodebt) and, secondly, that according to the AGS advice Masterton's case was 'not hopeless. Not. Hopeless. To quote the Royal Commissioner Catherine Holmes: This aspect of the advice was significant. What was, in effect, a legal challenge to a fundamental feature of the Scheme - that is, the use of averaging to determine social security entitlement - had been described by AGS as not appearing to be hopeless; a roundabout way of saying that it had prospects of success. While the 5 March 2019 advice did not descend into any analysis of those prospects, it should have been clear at this time to Ms Leon and other readers of the advice that the legality of the Scheme was far from certain. Despite this, on 8 March, Leon wrote to the Commonwealth Ombudsman to formalise her opposition to his investigation discussing the legal footing of the compliance regime. She wrote: "Our position is and remains that the legal position in relation to the program is not uncertain. Accordingly it would be premature for your report to suggest the legislation needs amending. I am concerned that your comments clearly imply that there is doubt as to the legality of the... system."

For now, I will refer back to this comprehensive summary of Leon's role a the end of my newsletter. rick-morton.ghost.io/a-rick-by-th...

This CSU grad is still mad that CSU couldn't be bothered with the most basic, first-year standard literature review.

The same way she helped write the Targeted Compliance Framework after she bravely lost her job for exposing Robodebt as illegal?

Defining Therapy Supports consultation with Allied Health Sector | Cat Walker “In new framework planning a participant must have an ‘assessed need’ to access therapy supports. A need for therapy will be identified through the support needs assessment process.” By NDIA assesso...

Oh, so now NDIA ‘assessors’ will also be prescribing therapy need and dosage based on a ‘conversation’?

Assessors who may be acting out of their scope of practice IF qualified, and more likely unqualified?

And can ignore our reports entirely?

What could go wrong?!!

#Auspol #NDIS #Therapy

'We see plans emptied in weeks': Alarm over remote NDIS recruitment tactics People with disabilities in remote Northern Territory communities are being targeted by unscrupulous NDIS providers using high-pressure sales tactics and inducements including cash, cigarettes and alc...

Ms Rickson says she did not understand at the time that the carer was about to place her in a live-in home in the town.

She said the carer did not facilitate any trips outside, making her feel like she was being treated like a "slave" or a "hostage".

www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

Bsky needs an accessibility specialist

💜

Ashleigh Rae has a video up (@feministradical on TikTok) about just suddenly discovering a disability - and all related core funding - has been removed from her NDIS plan with zero communication beforehand and gods, I hope she goes after the NDIA

I will be shocked if they do NOT strip additional disabilities en masse before they issue impairment notices.

And I have a long memory for every mind turned to this specific issue, including those repeatedly challenged on twisting of feedback about natural justice.

Surprise, surprise (not): In the absence of review rights to dispute cancellation of #NDIS claims or validity of debts, the NDIA now claims it is up to 10%.

This is exactly what we said would happen in 2024 if we could not formally challenge correctness of those decisions. 🧵👇

#Auspol #Estimates

Centrelink recipients who had Robodebts have just weeks to sign up to receive part of a massive payout. The federal government last year agreed to pay $475 million in additional compensation to about 450,000 victims of the calamitous robodebt scandal au.finance.yahoo.com/news/centrel...

Over a month ago I warned people didn’t realise they needed to sign up to receive compensation over Robodebt. So many people will miss out and their anger will point straight back at the government and the system bsky.app/profile/ashe...

See also: #Auspol #Estimates 🧵👇

Toolkit puts Autistic lens on suicide prevention Launch of the Suicide Prevention for Autism Neuro-affirming Toolkit.

📢New resource release!

The Suicide Prevention for Autism Neuroaffirming (span.toolkit) is an evidence-based, co-produced resource portal designed to support mental health professionals working with autistic adults.

www.latrobe.edu.au/news/article...

Review rights for NDIA assertions of non-compliant claims by participants would not in ANY way prevent the Agency from pursuing genuine misuse.

So why are they still denying us independent scrutiny of s45 & s46 decisions?

Would the 5% - sorry, 10% 🙄 - hold up? I doubt it.

#Estimates #Auspol 🧵👇