New Zealand MPs are debating a proposed law that could let the Ministry of Social Development use automated systems to make decisions about people’s benefits.
The change is part of a Bill being discussed urgently in Parliament, which means it does not go through the usual select committee process for public feedback. The Ministry says the changes would not use generative AI, such as ChatGPT. Supporters say the law could help make the welfare system faster and more efficient.
The Bill would widen the government’s ability to use automated decision-making in the welfare system. National MP Scott Simpson said the Ministry makes millions of decisions each year and that staff spend too much time on administration. He said automated systems would be used for simple, rules-based decisions, while people would still make decisions when human judgement was needed. ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar also said staff would still be there to help people.
However, opposition MPs raised concerns about fairness, safety and human contact. Labour MP Helen White said people who use the welfare system should be able to expect contact with a real person. Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March warned that automated systems could have too much power over people’s lives. He compared the proposal to Australia’s Robodebt scheme, which wrongly demanded money from some welfare recipients.
MPs will continue debating whether the proposed law would make the welfare system fairer and faster, or whether it could create new risks.
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