The Robodebt royal commission is hearing damning evidence of public sector dysfunction. Now it must probe the question of culture

In mid-November last year, the former head of the Department of Human Services, Kathryn Campbell, was asked by senior counsel assisting the royal commission into the so-called Robodebt scheme if she would describe the system, implemented under her watch, as "a massive failure of public administration". 'No one wanted to give her bad news' While the minister was presuming his department would raise matters, lawyers in the Department of Social Services had already told the commission that in 2018 they "feared" giving their then boss, Kathryn Campbell, news she would not have liked of legal advice about the unlawfulness of the scheme. Whatever the failings of ministers, the royal commission has revealed the most staggering and blatant picture of how the public service has been debased over the past 30 or 40 years into an institution driven by a "can do" culture determined to deliver to the demands of government, even to the point where it is delivering things that aren't actually legal. Details of Robodebt victims released to media, inquiry told Photo shows Former media adviser in office of the Minister of Human Services, Rachelle Miller at Robodebt royal commission Rachelle Miller told the commission that in response to growing criticism the government adopted a counter-narrative strategy in the "more friendly media" such as the tabloids.