Can We Stop 'Policy Bullshit' in the Automated State?

Can We Stop 'Policy Bullshit' in the Automated State?

  • 20 Oct 2026
  • 05:00pm - 06:30pm
  • FREE
  • Kaleide Theatre
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Join us for a thought-provoking panel discussion with public policy experts as we ask: Who can make government press pause when serious doubts emerge and who is accountable for the decision to continue?

Governments get things wrong, but 'bullshit' is different. Philosopher Harry Frankfurt argues that bullshit is not about whether a claim is true or false, but whether the person making it cares about the truth. In public policy, the specific problem of 'policy bullshit' arises when governments continue to rely on claims and assumptions even when there are serious reasons to question them. 

Robodebt is a key example and shows the distinction between recognising a policy problem and acting on this recognition. Serious concerns were raised through administrative and legal processes, yet the scheme continued. Are our accountability systems strong enough to force government to pause, reconsider and justify its decisions before significant harm occurs? What defences do we have against 'policy bullshit'? 

Moderated by: Professor Tim Marshall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Design and Social Context and Vice-President. 

Panellists

  • Distinguished Professor Julian Thomas, Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S) 
  • Associate Professor Yee-Fui Ng, Director (Higher Degree by Research), Monash University Faculty of Law 
  • Distinguished Professor Lisa Given, Director & Co-Founder, Centre for Human-AI Information Environments; Director, Social Change Enabling Impact Platform and Professor of Information Sciences in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies and the School of Computing Technologies
  • More panellists to be announced. 

Presented by RMIT University.

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RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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