# Tasmania justice department reviews AI use after fake citation in parole decision

Digest AI · Policy & Regulation · published 2026-09-19T06:21:51Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/tasmania-justice-department-reviews-ai-use-after-fake-citation-in-paro

## Summary

Tasmania’s justice department announced a review of artificial‑intelligence use in parole decisions after a court found a parole condition for convicted killer Susan Neill‑Fraser was invalid. The Supreme Court of Tasmania ruled the condition, which barred her from speaking to the media, was imposed without procedural fairness and was based on a document prepared with AI assistance that cited case law that does not exist.

A department spokesperson said the review will determine how extensively AI may have informed past Parole Board decisions, but declined to comment further while it is ongoing. The Parole Board, an independent body, declined to answer questions about its AI usage. Prisoners Legal Service Tasmania chair Greg Barns said the reliance on unchecked AI‑generated citations was “deeply troubling,” and the service is auditing two years of decisions for similar issues. Human Rights Law Centre lawyer Sarah Schwartz called the mistake a serious infringement of fundamental freedoms, and Attorney General Guy Barnett has written to the Board demanding an explanation.

## Key points

- Tasmania justice department launched a review after a parole board document cited non‑existent case law.
- Supreme Court ruled a media‑restriction parole condition invalid due to procedural unfairness.
- Legal groups are auditing two years of parole decisions for possible AI involvement.

## Why it matters

The incident highlights risks of unverified AI output in legal decisions, prompting scrutiny of AI governance in justice systems and potential safeguards.

## Sources

1. [Tasmanian justice department review under way after AI and fake citation used in murderer’s parole decision](https://theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/19/tasmania-justice-department-review-ai-artificial-intelligence-fake-citation-murderer-parole-decision-ntwnfb) (The Guardian AI, 2026-09-19)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Tasmania justice department reviews AI use after fake citation in parole decision", 19 September 2026, https://digestai.news/story/tasmania-justice-department-reviews-ai-use-after-fake-citation-in-paro

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