Tasmania launches review of AI use in parole decisions

Tasmania’s justice department has launched a review into the use of artificial intelligence in parole decisions following a significant legal error. The investigation follows a Supreme Court of Tasmania ruling that deemed a parole condition placed on convicted murderer Susan Neill-Fraser invalid due to a lack of procedural fairness.

During the legal challenge, it was revealed that the state parole board had relied on a document prepared with AI assistance that cited non-existent case law. Neill-Fraser, who was released on parole in 2022, had been subject to conditions preventing her from speaking to the media regarding her alleged wrongful conviction.

A spokesperson for the justice department stated the review will “determine the extent to which artificial intelligence may have been used to inform past Tasmanian parole board decisions.” Additionally, Prisoners Legal Service Tasmania is conducting its own audit of two years of parole board decisions to identify further errors or signs of AI involvement.