What happened
Deloitte produced a report for Australia’s Department of Employment and Workplace Relations under a contract worth about A$440,000. Researchers identified nonexistent sources and a fabricated judicial quote. An updated report disclosed AI use, and Deloitte agreed to repay the final contract installment. The department said the recommendations remained unchanged.
Source notes
A$440,000 was the approximate contract value, not the refund amount. Our source reports the corrections, disclosed AI use, and the department’s position. We do not claim that all the report’s analysis or recommendations were false.
What went wrong
The report’s professional presentation did not establish that its references or quotation were genuine.
What to notice and test
Separate who published a document from what supports it. For a decision that matters, trace the key claims to their original sources and ask for clarification when they do not match.
Try it together
Look at a familiar advertisement together. Name the claim, then name what evidence you would need to decide whether to believe it.