QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator COLBECK (Tasmania) (14:50): My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, 96-year-old Audrey Staniland is blind, has emphysema and lives alone in the Perth home that she has lived in for 43 years. Audrey's health has deteriorated over recent years.

Yet after reassessing her, using your government's assessment tool, your government's algorithm decided she needed no more funding than she was receiving 12 years ago. Her daughter challenged that decision. Audrey was assessed again.

The answer was the same. The algorithm said no. Minister, how can a 96-year-old blind woman living alone with emphysema and other serious health needs deteriorate significantly over more than a decade yet your government's system still conclude she needs no additional support?

If the system gets a case like Audrey so badly wrong, how can any elderly Australian have confidence in it?