What was debated in Parliament
Summarised using AI from the official Hansard transcript of the debate only. It is not a record of the debate and may leave things out. Read the Hansard below to check it.
This private senators' bill would change the Aged Care Act so that a trained assessor can override the Integrated Assessment Tool, a computer tool used to set older people's care levels. It would also require decision notices to explain how the tool was used and let people assessed since November 2025 ask for a fresh assessment. The debate focused on whether assessors should have this discretion and what it would mean for fairness, costs and wait times; it passed the Senate, and in the House the Coalition tried unsuccessfully to bring it on for immediate debate.
Arguments made in support
Coalition senators said a qualified assessor's clinical judgement should not be overruled by a computer tool.
Supporters said review requests rose sharply after the tool started, and geriatric doctors had called it a clinical safety risk.
The Greens argued the tool was not clinically tested or trialled on people, and said it was designed to reduce care costs.
Independent Senator Pocock said assessors can only rubberstamp the tool's result, and cited robodebt royal commission advice on human oversight.
Coalition members in the House shared local cases where they said older people did not get the care they needed.
Arguments made against, or for changes
Government senators said they shared the bill's intent but could not support it as drafted, saying it could be counterproductive.
The Government argued broad assessor discretion under the old system led to very different outcomes for people with similar needs.
Government speakers cited departmental advice that the bill would have significant costs and could lengthen wait times by about five months.
The Government said it would instead legislate an escalation pathway so tool outcomes could be changed in extenuating circumstances.
18 speeches by 12 members in the Senate and House over 3 sitting days.
Hansard: Senate, 23 June 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 2 July 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 11 Aug 2026 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Includes votes on amendments and procedure.