SENATOR THE HON ANNE RUSTON
SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE
DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE
SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA

SENATE PASSES BILL TO RESTORE HUMAN JUDGEMENT TO AGED CARE ASSESSMENTS — LABOR STANDS ALONE IN OPPOSITION
Thursday, 2nd July 2026

The Senate has today passed the Aged Care Amendment (Restoring Human Override for Aged Care Needs Assessments) Bill 2026, making humans — not a computer algorithm — responsible for decisions about the level of aged care support older Australians receive.

The Bill passed with the support of the Greens and crossbench senators, after Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne and Independent Senator David Pocock co-sponsored the legislation put forward by the Coalition.

Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care Senator Anne Ruston said the result showed just how isolated Labor had become on an issue affecting hundreds of thousands of older Australians.

“The Senate has sent an unmistakable message to the Albanese Government that humans, not a computer algorithm, should be responsible for the life-changing decisions that determine the care older Australians receive,” Senator Ruston said.

“Every other party in this Parliament recognised that principle. Only Labor voted to keep a flawed algorithm in charge of decisions that determine whether a senior can safely stay in their own home.”

The computerised Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) was introduced in November 2025 as part of the new aged care system and relies on an algorithm to determine what level of care older Australians receive, particularly for those receiving support to stay at home. Government officials confirmed at Senate Estimates last month that the algorithm currently being used did not undergo any live trial or testing before being rolled out to make life-changing decisions.

“The Commonwealth Ombudsman is investigating, the Inspector-General of Aged Care has criticised the lack of human override. With about 100,000 older Australians waiting for an assessment and review requests up nearly six-fold in a single year, the case for this Bill was overwhelming,” Senator Ruston said.

“Despite all of that evidence, and despite the Greens, David Pocock and One Nation standing with us, Labor chose to vote against restoring basic human judgement to aged care assessments.”

Senator Ruston said the Albanese Government’s rushed announcement this morning that IAT decisions could now be changed in “extenuating circumstances” was proof the Government only ever acts when forced.

“Let’s be clear about what happened this morning. Facing certain defeat in the Senate, the Minister suddenly discovered he could tinker with the assessment process after months of telling us it couldn’t be done,” Senator Ruston said.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve had to drag the Government to act. It follows the release of 20,000 additional home care packages secured through a Senate amendment and the reclassification of showering, wound dressing and continence care as clinical support after senators wrote to the Minister demanding the change.

“But older Australians don’t need more tinkering around the edges. They need a Government which is willing to fight for them and their families, not one that only moves when the politics gets too hot.

“We urge the Government to stop stalling, bring our Bill on for a vote in the House and give older Australians the certainty they deserve.

“Today, the Senate listened to older Australians. It’s time the Albanese Government did too.”

ENDS