The Coalition has welcomed the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s decision to investigate the Albanese Government’s aged care assessment algorithm, amid growing concerns it is denying support to vulnerable older Australians.
Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care Senator Anne Ruston said it was clear an investigation was warranted given the serious flaws in the Government’s approach.
“The Coalition welcomes the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s decision to investigate the Albanese Government’s deeply flawed aged care assessment algorithm, which should never have been implemented without proper human safeguards,” Senator Ruston said.
Senator Ruston said that there had already been at least 834 requests from older Australians for a review of their funding decisions made since 1 November 2025 when the new Integrated Assessment Tool, an entirely computerised decision-making process, was implemented – compared with just 170 in the previous financial year.
“That is an extraordinary increase and a clear indication that something is going very wrong,” Senator Ruston said.
“This algorithm is making unilateral decisions that older Australians with progressive, degenerative conditions like MND and dementia need less care. Sadly, these are older Australians whose health we know is deteriorating but Labor’s algorithm says otherwise and there is no option for a health professional to step in.
“This is the same Labor Government that promised to put the care back into aged care, but instead they’ve stripped out the humanity and replaced it with a computer.
“Anthony Albanese and his Ministers continue to ignore the evidence in front of them. The Coalition, along with our crossbench colleagues, has been raising these concerns since day one, but Labor has dismissed every single one of them.
“It is becoming increasingly clear this was a political decision designed to protect the budget bottom line at the expense of the health and safety of older Australians.
“Older Australians deserve better than to have their care rationed by a Treasurer’s spreadsheet.
“The fact this issue now demands the attention of the Ombudsman is a direct consequence of Labor choosing to ignore the evidence in front of it.”
The Coalition continues to call for Anthony Albanese to step in and reinstate human oversight of his government’s aged care algorithm without delay.
ENDS
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