ABC’s Anne Connolly keeps focus on aged care
After inviting families to contact them with stories about their experiences with the aged care system, the ABC’s 7.30 program has aired a feature on the Government’s Integrated Assessment Tool.
Last month, the national broadcaster received a large response after putting the call out, and investigative reporter Anne Connolly (pictured below) had confirmed to The Weekly SOURCE that they were considering running a story.
On Tuesday’s 7.30 (24 March), Anne reported on the Government’s new Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT), drawing comparisons with the disastrous Robotdebt policy.
The Government introduced the IAT on 1 July 2024 with the aim of standardising aged care assessments, but from 1 November 2025, when the new Aged Care Act took effect, human oversight of its outcomes was removed.
“The clinicians who do the assessments can’t override the algorithms outcomes, even when they think they’re wrong,” Anne said on the program.
Consumers being reassessed when their care needs escalate are having their requests knocked back due to IAT determinations.
Aged Care Minister Sam Rae told 7.30 that under the previous Home Care Package system: “We had $4 billion of value allocated to people incorrectly”, referring to the high number of unspent funds allocated but not used under the former system.
The spot concluded with another call out for consumers to contact the national broadcaster with stories about their aged care experiences.
Negative media attention gaining force
The Weekly SOURCE began reporting on issues with the process as early as November last year, only weeks after human oversight was removed.
The Government’s new HELF fees have also been in the spotlight in recent weeks, with reports in The Daily Telegraph about Opal HealthCare’s trial at four homes - trialling changes in line with Government guidelines.
Last November, 7.30 also reported on excessive wait times for aged care assessments – an issue The Weekly SOURCE has been covering since July 2025.
Without clearer communication from both the Government and the sector, negative media attention around the new Aged Care Act will persist.
