A recent investigation by the Commonwealth Ombudsman, Iain Anderson, has raised significant concerns regarding the algorithm used by the Australian federal government to determine the level of care for older citizens. The report describes the tool as "unreasonable" and "unfair," citing a critical lack of human oversight in the decision-making process. Anderson noted that the current system presents legal challenges and prevents aged care assessors from overriding clinically incorrect decisions made by the software.

Furthermore, the Ombudsman’s report suggests that the government has failed to implement key transparency recommendations previously established by the Robodebt Royal Commission. The investigation emphasizes that the current framework limits the ability of professionals to intervene when the algorithm produces flawed assessments, potentially impacting the quality of care provided to the elderly. To address these issues, the report advocates for legislative amendments that would empower assessors to manually adjust algorithmic outcomes when necessary. The findings highlight a broader tension between the efficiency of automated systems and the necessity of human accountability in public service delivery.