Machine learning-supported debt collection in New South Wales was defective for several years after changes were made to a previously unlawful version of the system, according to the state’s ombudsman.

The latest report from the NSW Ombudsman, which has been scrutinising the state government’s garnishee order (GO) system since 2016, found that Revenue NSW had engaged in maladministration until March 2022.

It described using the system to recover debts under the…