Unreasonable and unfair: damning investigation criticises Labor’s algorithm-based tool for aged care

The ombudsman investigation followed reporting by Guardian Australia that older people were being left distressed and without adequate care after their home support needs were assessed by an ‘inhumane’ algorithm as part of the government’s mandatory Integrated Assessment Tool. Photograph: Carly Earl/The Guardian

An algorithm used by the federal government to assess the level of care older Australians are entitled to is unreasonable, unfair and lacks human oversight, according to a damning investigation by the commonwealth ombudsman.

The investigation also found transparency recommendations from the robodebt royal commission have been ignored.