Government accused of repeating robodebt mistakes through secret algorithm
Centre for Public Integrity warns about a government algorithm for aged care. It is under-assessing needs without transparency or oversight.
The Centre for Public Integrity released a report called Computer Says No on Thursday. It warns the government may repeat the robodebt disaster.
The concern is an algorithm called the integrated assessment tool (IAT). It decides how much home support older Australians get.
The tool often under-assesses what people need. Yet the government has banned aged care assessors from fixing its decisions.
The thinktank says the government has no required audit system. It has no public register of algorithm use in decisions.
It has no independent body to oversee them. The report recommends a required public register and an independent oversight body.
This body should monitor and investigate government algorithm use. Attorney General Michelle Rowland said the government is developing a system for making automated decisions.
She offered no timeline.
- Computer Says No
- Report name
- Centre for Public Integrity
- Author
- integrated assessment tool (IAT)
- Tool assessed
Why it mattersWithout transparency or oversight of government algorithms, vulnerable Australians risk a repeat of the robodebt disaster. That disaster cost billions and harmed thousands.
AustraliaOlder Australians receiving aged care assessments may be getting incorrect decisions made by an algorithm they cannot see or challenge, with no oversight body to help them.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
