My partner has a brain tumour. It affects their balance and muscle strength, and physiotherapy helps keep them walking and standing upright.

Under the old system, they were on Level 3 of four. [After a reassessment] under Support at Home, the algorithm placed them at Level 3 of 8 — a fraction of the support. On a $900-a-fortnight pension, once the bills, rates, petrol and health insurance are paid, there's nothing left to cover the gap. [The physio is the thing that goes.]

No clinician made that call. Since last November, every older person assessed for a Support at Home package has their funding set by a government algorithm, and the trained assessor sitting in their living room is not allowed to overrule it. Emails released under freedom of information show the Department warned Minister Sam Rae three days before the rollout that assessors would have no power to override it. It went ahead anyway.

Four Corners found more than 4,800 people died in 2024–25 waiting for care they'd already been assessed as needing. This is the generation that built Medicare. They have paid into it all their lives and are now being left to die waiting for this care.

The Senate has already passed a bill to put humans back in charge. The Government is blocking it in the House.

I'm asking Minister Rae to end algorithm-only decision-making, ensure every assessment is conducted and verified by a qualified health professional, and make the process transparent so families can challenge the result. Will you sign?