<p>Report from commonwealth ombudsman finds ‘technological black box’ ignores transparency recommendations from robodebt royal commission</p><ul><li><p>Follow our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/oct/26/australia-politics-live-helen-haines-tribute-anthony-albanese-labor-liberal-one-nation-pauline-hanson-angus-taylor-question-time-senate-estimates-ntwnfb">Australian politics live blog</a> for latest updates</p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily political email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>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.</p><p>The investigation also found transparency recommendations from the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/royal-commission-into-robodebt">robodebt royal commission</a> have been ignored.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/28/politics-really-newsletter-guardian-australia-free-best-daily-auspol-email-subscribe?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/26/damning-investigation-labor-algorithm-tool-aged-care-assessment">Continue reading...</a>