New Zealand bill would expand MSD's use of AI for welfare benefit decisions

Summary

A proposed amendment to New Zealand's Social Security Act, being fast-tracked through Parliament under urgency, would expand the Ministry of Social Development's ability to use AI and automated decision-making systems for benefit decisions. The bill bypasses the select committee process, meaning no public consultation or scrutiny. Currently, the Act only allows "targeted" use of automated decision-making, but the new bill would broaden this to enable MSD to approve automated systems for making decisions, exercising powers, and complying with obligations. Coalition parties argue the change would make welfare administration more efficient.