The Coalition government (under Malcolm Turnbull) did undertake a blockchain trial for NDIS payments.
2018 2018 年 nián , , Digital Digital Transformation Transformation Agency Agency ( ( DTA DTA ) ) 与 yǔ CSIRO CSIRO 的 de Data61 Data61 以及 yǐ jí Commonwealth Commonwealth Bank Bank 合作 hé zuò , , 开展 kāi zhǎn 了 le " " Making Making Money Money Smart Smart " " 试点 shì diǎn — — — — 一个 yí gè 基于 jī yú 区块 qū kuài 链 liàn 的 de 系统 xì tǒng , , 旨在 zhǐ zài 为 wèi NDIS NDIS 支付 zhī fù 创建 chuàng jiàn " " 智能 zhì néng 货币 huò bì " " [ [ 1 1 ] ] 。 。
In 2018, the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) partnered with CSIRO's Data61 and the Commonwealth Bank to trial "Making Money Smart" - a blockchain-based system designed to create "smart money" for NDIS payments [1].
The proof-of-concept trial aimed to enable conditional payments with integrated spending rules for individual NDIS participants' budget categories [2].
Rather, it was framed as a way to manage conditional payments - ensuring funds could only be used for approved purposes within individualized support plans [1][2].
该 gāi 主张 zhǔ zhāng 将 jiāng 两个 liǎng gè 独立 dú lì 的 de 项目 xiàng mù 混为一谈 hùn wéi yī tán : :
The claim conflates two separate initiatives:
**The Blockchain Trial (2018-2019):** This was a proof-of-concept by DTA/CSIRO/CBA that was never operationalized by the NDIA.
However the NDIA did not commission the trial, nor did the Agency act on any of its findings" [3].
**Compliance Monitoring Systems:** What the NDIA did pursue were technology-driven compliance monitoring systems targeting disabled participants themselves - a shift from previous focus on service provider fraud [4].
According to investigative reporting by Rick Morton in The Saturday Paper (2021): "Two senior public servants involved in the establishment of the robo-debt program are now working in the compliance division of the National Disability Insurance Agency" [5].
### Part 3: The Oracle Problem and Technical Accuracy
区块 qū kuài 链 liàn specifically specifically 被 bèi 放弃 fàng qì 了 le ; ; 合规 hé guī 监控 jiān kòng 确实 què shí 进行 jìn xíng 了 le 。 。
This is **factually accurate**.
### ### 第三 dì sān 部分 bù fèn : : Oracle Oracle Problem Problem 和 hé 技术 jì shù 准确性 zhǔn què xìng
The Oracle Problem is a genuine technical concern in smart contracts.
这是 zhè shì * * * * 事实上 shì shí shàng 准确 zhǔn què 的 de * * * * 。 。
The core issue the claim identifies - determining whether a taxi ride was for medical purposes or recreational use - perfectly exemplifies why blockchain cannot solve data validation problems [6].
Oracle Oracle Problem Problem 是 shì 智能 zhì néng 合约 hé yuē 中 zhōng 一个 yí gè 真正 zhēn zhèng 的 de 技术 jì shù 关注点 guān zhù diǎn 。 。
The "Making Money Smart" report itself acknowledged this exact challenge: "One of the biggest surprises was the extent of the challenge to collect all the data required to enable conditional payments across the NDIS ecosystem, including payments to general businesses that deliver services to NDIS participants (for example, travel, digestive aids)...
Was that trip to get somewhere as part of their treatment plan, and therefore a legitimate expense, or something else?" [7]
The DTA's own conclusion was revealing: "The design challenge is as much about effective data collection as it is about data processing (whether using blockchain or a centralised database)" [7].
As blockchain expert David Gerard noted to ZDNet: "You don't need a blockchain to oppress people with surveillance of rules that can't be complied with" [8].
The forthcoming NDIS app that sparked concerns was "not related to the 2018 trial" and "does not use blockchain technology" according to NDIA's statement [3].
The compliance monitoring systems were developed partly in response to these concerns, though this doesn't necessarily justify their implementation design.
### ### 4 4 . . UK UK 的 de 先例 xiān lì
### 4. The UK Precedent
该 gāi 主张 zhǔ zhāng 没有 méi yǒu 提到 tí dào UK UK 政府 zhèng fǔ 在 zài 2016 2016 年 nián 开发 kāi fā 了 le 类似 lèi sì 的 de 区块 qū kuài 链 liàn 福利 fú lì 提案 tí àn , , 但 dàn 完全 wán quán 放弃 fàng qì 了 le 它 tā 。 。
The claim doesn't mention that the UK government developed a similar blockchain welfare proposal in 2016 but abandoned it entirely.
根据 gēn jù David David Gerard Gerard 的 de 说法 shuō fǎ : : " " 该 gāi 试点 shì diǎn 的 de 结果 jié guǒ 如此 rú cǐ 糟糕 zāo gāo , , 他们 tā men 抛弃 pāo qì 了 le 整个 zhěng gè 想法 xiǎng fǎ , , 公务员 gōng wù yuán 们 men 决定 jué dìng 区块 qū kuài 链 liàn 不再 bù zài 酷 kù 了 le ... ... 即便如此 jí biàn rú cǐ , , 区块 qū kuài 链 liàn 方案 fāng àn 如此 rú cǐ 糟糕 zāo gāo , , 他们 tā men 还是 hái shì 抛弃 pāo qì 了 le 它 tā " " [ [ 8 8 ] ] 。 。
According to David Gerard: "The trial of this went so badly they threw away the whole idea, and civil servants decided blockchain wasn't cool any more... even with that, the blockchain scheme was so bad they threw it away" [8].
Australia Australia 的 de 计划 jì huà 呼应 hū yìng 了 le 失败 shī bài 的 de UK UK 模式 mó shì 。 。
The "Making Money Smart" report contained many hedging statements: "blockchain technology offers promise" [7] - notably weak language suggesting the researchers themselves were uncertain.
Commonwealth Commonwealth Bank Bank 和 hé CSIRO CSIRO 将 jiāng 其 qí 作为 zuò wéi 研究 yán jiū 呈现 chéng xiàn , , 而 ér 非 fēi 准备 zhǔn bèi 投入 tóu rù 运营 yùn yíng 的 de 系统 xì tǒng 。 。
The Commonwealth Bank and CSIRO presented it as research, not an operational system ready for deployment.
Stilgherrian is an established tech journalist and columnist.
文章 wén zhāng 本身 běn shēn 在 zài 事实上 shì shí shàng rigorous rigorous — — — — 它 tā 引用 yǐn yòng 了 le 具体 jù tǐ 来源 lái yuán ( ( The The Saturday Saturday Paper Paper 、 、 DTA DTA 出版物 chū bǎn wù 、 、 Commonwealth Commonwealth Bank Bank 报告 bào gào ) ) , , 区分 qū fēn 了 le 区块 qū kuài 链 liàn 试点 shì diǎn 和 hé 独立 dú lì 的 de 合规 hé guī 系统 xì tǒng , , 并 bìng 包含 bāo hán 了 le 澄清 chéng qīng 误解 wù jiě 的 de 官方 guān fāng NDIA NDIA 回应 huí yìng 。 。
The article itself is factually rigorous - it cites specific sources (The Saturday Paper, DTA publications, Commonwealth Bank reports), distinguishes between the blockchain trial and separate compliance systems, and includes an official NDIA response clarifying misconceptions.
The article's framing is critical but fact-based [3].
**mdavis.xyz source:** The second source cannot be directly assessed without accessing it, but based on the claim's language ("waving away all concerns") and the framing, this source appears to be from a more advocacy-oriented perspective.
However, the claim appears to emphasize the blockchain aspect more prominently than either source warrants, given that the blockchain was abandoned and not the actual policy implemented.
然而 rán ér , , 主张 zhǔ zhāng 似乎 sì hū 比 bǐ 任何 rèn hé 一个 yí gè 来源 lái yuán 所 suǒ 保证 bǎo zhèng 的 de 更 gèng 突出 tū chū 地 dì 强调 qiáng diào 区块 qū kuài 链 liàn 方面 fāng miàn , , 考虑 kǎo lǜ 到 dào 区块 qū kuài 链 liàn 被 bèi 放弃 fàng qì 且 qiě 不是 bú shì 实际 shí jì 实施 shí shī 的 de 政策 zhèng cè 。 。
However, the NDIS itself is a Labor initiative (created under the Rudd/Gillard governments), and Labor's 2022 election platform committed to improving NDIS.
Labor's response has been mixed:
1. **Abbott's Robo-Debt Legacy:** Labor has been more critical of technology-driven debt recovery following the Robodebt Royal Commission inquiry (2022-2024), which found the original scheme unlawful [12][13].
2. **Current NDIS Approach:** Labor's current government has faced similar NDIS compliance challenges and has continued monitoring systems, though with reforms [14].
Labor Labor 的 de 回应 huí yìng 一直 yì zhí 是 shì 复杂 fù zá 的 de : :
An ABC investigation in December 2024 noted: "After opposing the Coalition's 'robo' NDIS reforms, Labor accused of pursuing similar changes" [15] - suggesting Labor is pursuing comparable compliance monitoring despite previous criticism.
**Verdict on Labor Comparison:** Labor did not create the specific programs being criticized, but has inherited and continued similar compliance-focused approaches to NDIS administration.
The Robodebt precedent is instructive: between 2016-2020, the Coalition's unlawful automated debt recovery scheme issued approximately 400,000 debts, many to people who didn't actually owe money.
The Oracle Problem observation is technically sound - blockchain cannot solve the fundamental policy question of what constitutes a valid NDIS expense, especially for ambiguous cases like transportation that could serve multiple purposes [7].
The eventual compliance apps focused on simplifying claims submission rather than automated debt assessment [3].
政府 zhèng fǔ 的 de 框架 kuāng jià ( ( 特别 tè bié 是 shì 在 zài 前 qián 秘书长 mì shū zhǎng Kathryn Kathryn Campbell Campbell " " 一个 yí gè 应用 yìng yòng 统治 tǒng zhì 一切 yī qiè " " 的 de 愿景下 yuàn jǐng xià ) ) 确实 què shí 暗示 àn shì 了 le 一种 yī zhǒng 令人担忧 lìng rén dān yōu 的 de 合规 hé guī 优先 yōu xiān 思维 sī wéi 文化 wén huà — — — — 强调 qiáng diào 监控 jiān kòng 参与者 cān yù zhě 的 de 支出 zhī chū , , 而 ér 非 fēi 确保 què bǎo 他们 tā men 获得 huò dé 全部 quán bù 福利 fú lì [ [ 8 8 ] ] 。 。
The government's framing (particularly under former Secretary Kathryn Campbell's "one app to rule them all" vision) does suggest a troubling culture of compliance-first thinking - an emphasis on monitoring participants' spending rather than ensuring they receive full benefits [8].
This is a cultural/political problem, not necessarily technical overreach, though technology can embed such culture.
### ### 专家 zhuān jiā 评估 píng gū
### Expert Assessment
区块 qū kuài 链 liàn 专家 zhuān jiā David David Gerard Gerard 提供 tí gōng 了 le 平衡 píng héng 的 de 批评 pī píng : : 虽然 suī rán 承认 chéng rèn 防止 fáng zhǐ 欺诈 qī zhà 的 de 愿望 yuàn wàng 是 shì 合理 hé lǐ 的 de , , 但 dàn 他 tā 指出 zhǐ chū 区块 qū kuài 链 liàn specifically specifically 没有 méi yǒu 增加 zēng jiā 任何 rèn hé 有益 yǒu yì 的 de 东西 dōng xī , , 反而 fǎn ér 可能 kě néng 使 shǐ 原本 yuán běn 技术 jì shù 上 shàng 不 bù 可行 kě xíng 的 de 监控 jiān kòng 成为 chéng wéi 可能 kě néng [ [ 8 8 ] ] 。 。
Blockchain expert David Gerard provided balanced critique: while acknowledging the desire to prevent fraud is legitimate, he noted blockchain specifically adds nothing helpful and may enable surveillance that wouldn't be technically feasible otherwise [8].
The better criticism is of the *compliance regime design*, not primarily the blockchain component.
**Key context:** This is not unique to the Coalition.
The claim is factually grounded (blockchain trial did occur, compliance systems did shift toward participant targeting, the Oracle Problem is real) but misleads through emphasis and conflation:
- **True:** Coalition proposed/trialed blockchain for NDIS [1]
- **True:** Compliance monitoring shifted to target disabled participants [5]
- **Misleading:** Blockchain was abandoned, not implemented [3]
- **Misleading:** Conflates blockchain trial with separate compliance systems [4][5]
- **True:** Oracle Problem proves blockchain wouldn't solve validation issues [7]
- **Missing:** Labor has continued similar compliance approaches [15]
The claim's core problem isn't inaccuracy but *selective emphasis*.
It highlights the blockchain (which was abandoned) more than the actual implemented policy (compliance monitoring), and frames this as Coalition-unique when it reflects broader governmental trends that Labor continues.
The claim is factually grounded (blockchain trial did occur, compliance systems did shift toward participant targeting, the Oracle Problem is real) but misleads through emphasis and conflation:
- **True:** Coalition proposed/trialed blockchain for NDIS [1]
- **True:** Compliance monitoring shifted to target disabled participants [5]
- **Misleading:** Blockchain was abandoned, not implemented [3]
- **Misleading:** Conflates blockchain trial with separate compliance systems [4][5]
- **True:** Oracle Problem proves blockchain wouldn't solve validation issues [7]
- **Missing:** Labor has continued similar compliance approaches [15]
The claim's core problem isn't inaccuracy but *selective emphasis*.
It highlights the blockchain (which was abandoned) more than the actual implemented policy (compliance monitoring), and frames this as Coalition-unique when it reflects broader governmental trends that Labor continues.