Can We Stop Policy Bullshit in the Automated State?

20 Oct 2026
05:00pm - 06:30pm
FREE
Kaleide Theatre

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. 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 problem arises when governments continue to rely on claims and assumptions even when there are serious reasons to question them.

Robodebt shows the difference between calling bullshit and stopping it. Serious concerns were raised through administrative and legal processes, yet the scheme continued. The question is whether our accountability systems are strong enough to force government to pause, reconsider and justify its decisions before significant harm occurs.

As AI and automation allow governments to act on decisions faster and at greater scale, this question becomes even more urgent.

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
More panellists to be announced.

Presented by RMIT University

Register

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Acknowledgement of Country

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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Can We Stop Policy Bullshit in the Automated State?