Bill Debate · First Reading
House of Representatives · Tuesday 11 August 2026
Official Hansard for this day (APH) · Read this debate on OpenAustralia
The debate concerned the first reading of a bill aimed at restoring human oversight in aged care needs assessments, which had previously passed the Senate. Opposition members moved an amendment to consider the bill immediately, arguing that algorithmic decision-making was causing harmful outcomes for elderly Australians. The government declined to debate the bill immediately, leading to a division where the amendment was defeated. The bill itself was not passed at this stage.
The amendment to consider the bill immediately was defeated in a division of 42 to 87, and the bill was not passed.
Summary in reported speech - not a transcript. AI-generated, so check the official record before quoting.
Opened the debate
White moved that the motion for the second reading be set down for the next sitting. White did not provide a substantive speech on the bill's merits during this first reading stage, instead formally initiating the parliamentary process for the legislation.
Opposition response
Tehan moved an amendment to consider the bill immediately, arguing that human decision-makers should replace algorithms in aged care assessments. Tehan claimed that automated systems were creating backlogs and perverse outcomes, citing constituent concerns about faceless decision-making. Tehan asserted that the government had previously criticized automation but was now implementing it, and he urged immediate debate to address these urgent issues.
Caldwell seconded the amendment, emphasizing the need for immediate action to restore human oversight in aged care decisions. Caldwell cited the case of Dudley Austin, a 98-year-old constituent who received no urgent care after a fall due to algorithmic assessment, resulting in his death. Caldwell argued that the government was failing older Australians by relying on computerized systems and urged members to support the legislation as a matter of urgency.