Labor’s failed aged care reforms cop another whack from the Senate
Labor’s failed aged care reforms cop another whack from the Senate | Australian Greens Skip to main content Search Get Involved Join Donate Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Get Involved Join Donate Search Our plan Toggle Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Toggle Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Toggle Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement Toggle About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Labor’s failed aged care reforms cop another whack from the Senate 2026-07-02 The Senate this morning passed a bill to reinstate human override in aged care assessments, handing Labor another humiliation over its disastrous aged care reforms.
Labor’s aged care algorithm is consistently underassessing care need and priority, leaving older people with serious conditions like MND without even the bare minimum support. Under Labor’s reforms there is no ability for a human assessor to override an incorrect or inappropriate algorithmic decision. The legislation that passed the Senate today, co-sponsored by the Greens, Coalition and Senator David Pocock, would protect the discretion of an assessor to make professional determinations about care.
In a bid to get ahead of the parliamentary defeat it knew was coming, Labor announced some minor changes to the algorithm this morning. But these would only allow for human override in “outlier” cases. This is the second defeat Labor has suffered in the Senate over its aged care reforms.
A vote last year forced the government to release more home care packages. Comments attributable to Greens Older People Spokesperson Senator Penny Allman-Payne “Labor’s aged care reforms are unravelling, with another humiliating defeat on the floor of the Senate today. “Piece by piece, the parliament is forcing this Labor government to unwind its disastrous reforms, yet they keep pretending everything’s okay.
“How can older Australians trust Labor when they still act like the system is working fine? “Minister Rae is clearly out of his depth and older people are paying for it, some with their lives.” Facebook for the Australian Greens YouTube for the Australian Greens X for the Australian Greens Instagram for the Australian Greens Bluesky for the Australian Greens Privacy Members website Your safety Contact us Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action In your language 2025 policy platform Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Federal portfolios Federal media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Upcoming events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Green Magazine All news Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Members website State/territory parties Contact us The Greens acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.
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