This has caused hundreds of complaints and requests for internal review.<\/p>\n
This morning, the aged care minister, Sam Rae, who has been in hot water over the issue, has told the ABC that in limited circumstances the system will now allow some human oversight for complex cases.<\/p>\n
double quotation markIn some limited circumstances, people\u2019s complex circumstances don\u2019t necessarily fit neatly into a framework. And in those small number of circumstances, we want the system governor to be able to make the necessary decisions to get the most appropriate outcomes for older people \u2026<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve listened and we\u2019ve done the policy work to make sure that we get the best outcomes for older people.<\/p>\n
Updated at\u00a017.43 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Aged care minister defends aged care reforms<\/p>\n RN Breakfast host, Mel Clarke, asks Rae why the government is always being dragged by its feet on aged care reforms.<\/p>\n You might remember in the Senate last year the government was about to lose a vote between David Pocock, the Greens and Coalition<\/a> which would have forced 20,000 extra home care packages to come online as the waiting list for the support blew out. The government then cut a deal with the Coalition to try and claim it as a win.<\/p>\n This time Clarke points out there\u2019s another private member\u2019s bill which does something similar to what the government is now doing \u2013 by putting human override back into the system.<\/p>\n Rae won\u2019t comment on the politics, and again tries to defend the system.<\/p>\n double quotation markI\u2019m not going to weigh in on the politics of the Senate. It\u2019s not my natural habitat, I\u2019m afraid. What I can tell you is we\u2019ve been listening to older people. We always said we would do that all the way through this process. I make regular changes to the way this system operates to get better outcomes. This is a point that we\u2019ve been discussing publicly and I\u2019ve been engaged with across the entire community for a period of time and made clear that I was giving this consideration.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.38 EDT<\/p>\n Minister defends aged care automated tool after key concession<\/p>\n Sam Rae, the aged care minister, claims he\u2019s been clear \u201call the way through\u201d that the controversial integrated assessment tool would require ongoing refinement.<\/p>\n Rae tells ABC RN Breakfast there\u2019s been misunderstanding and confusion over the system in trying to justify the tool, and says there is still some human engagement in the process.<\/p>\n But he\u2019s announced this morning that the government will allow human override of the tool in some complex cases, after receiving hundreds of complaints from older people in the system.<\/p>\n But he\u2019s not actually clear on what defines a \u201ccomplex\u201d case and says the trigger for the additional clinical assessment (the human override of the tool) will be \u201csubject to some of the conversations we want to have over this winter break\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markOlder people and their family members already have this option to seek a review \u2026 within the initial assessment process, there\u2019s a review component. So they can already seek a review. The older person or as I said a supporter can seek a review through that review process. This is another option where clinical judgment is applied. We think this will apply to a very small number of assessments but where the needs of that person aren\u2019t captured. And so there needs to be an escalation for that.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.21 EDT<\/p>\n \u2018We want sport to be about families, not addicting children,\u2019 says Leeser<\/p>\n Julian Leeser won\u2019t reveal exactly where the Coalition\u2019s red line is on the government\u2019s gambling legislation, but does say it\u2019s being looked at closely, and the guiding principle is that kids shouldn\u2019t be infiltrated with gambling ads while they\u2019re watching sport with the family.<\/p>\n The government\u2019s gambling bill restricts ads to three per hour between 6:30am and 8:30pm on TV, but we know a lot \u2013 if not most \u2013 sporting matches are still going well after 8:30pm or are even starting after 8:30pm.<\/p>\n That\u2019s in contrast to the former Liberal leader Peter Dutton\u2019s proposal for all online gambling ads to be banned during, one hour before and one hour after games.<\/p>\n double quotation markWhenever my colleagues and I talk about gambling restrictions, it\u2019s always on the basis that we want to protect children and families that are enjoying sport. Sport is family time, and it\u2019s time that across the generations people enjoy games \u2026 that shouldn\u2019t be interrupted by gambling. And sometimes gambling, particularly online gambling, can destroy lives. So it\u2019s important that we do restrict some of this behaviour and I know we\u2019ll be looking at those laws closely.<\/p>\n Asked if he agrees with Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young that more should be done to ensure parents are protected from gambling, Leeser says he\u2019s \u201csympathetic\u201d to the position.<\/p>\n double quotation markChildren are much better off when parents spend their money on essential services, getting them to school, making sure they\u2019re properly fed and the like rather than on gambling \u2026 So in principle, I have some sympathy for that view.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.12 EDT<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s got worse since Bondi\u2019: Julian Leeser details experience of antisemitism<\/p>\n Julian Leeser, a Liberal frontbencher and Jewish MP, says he has been called a \u201ctraitor and a Mossad agent\u201d on social media, detailing the antisemitism he\u2019s experiencing.<\/p>\n He tells RN Breakfast he believes antisemitism on social media has gotten much worse, and \u201cmuch worse\u201d since the Bondi terror attack in December.<\/p>\n He says the saturation of antisemitism on social media is being examined by the royal commission on social cohesion, and will await their recommendations on how to hold the tech giants more responsible for the content spreading.<\/p>\n double quotation markIt\u2019s got actually worse since Bondi. I\u2019m called a traitor and a Mossad agent. And graphic and sexual imagery is used about me because I\u2019m a Jew of the sort that I will not repeat on your program. I love this country. I want my children to enjoy this sort of Australia I enjoyed growing up \u2026<\/p>\n I think the social media companies are more than on notice about this now. And I think this is one of the issues that the royal commission is looking at. And I think we need to look at the recommendations that come out of the royal commission.<\/p>\n Liberal MP Julian Leeser. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.02 EDT<\/p>\n \u2018Eight weeks to shred documents\u2019: Wells on social media law delay<\/p>\n The main reason for Anika Wells\u2019 media appearances this morning is to kick the Coalition<\/a> and the Greens for sending that social media bill \u2013 increasing fines for platforms and handing the eSafety commissioner more power \u2013 into an eight-week inquiry.<\/p>\n Wells tells RN Breakfast that the \u201c500-word\u201d legislation is not complex, and doesn\u2019t need that extra scrutiny.<\/p>\n She adds that the warnings from the eSafety commissioner about the risk of not being able to compel documents from the platforms, to crack down on breaches, makes the legislation \u201cgenuinely urgent\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markIt\u2019s not complex, and I think Angus Taylor should explain why he is honestly giving big tech eight more weeks to prepare their case, eight more weeks to get their ducks in a row, potentially eight weeks to shred documents now that they know these changes are coming.<\/p>\n I think this is genuinely urgent. I\u2019m crestfallen. Angus Taylor has decided to walk away from bipartisanship and he should explain why he would make such a craven and expedient decision.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.13 EDT<\/p>\n Wells defends gambling reforms among heavy criticisms it doesn\u2019t go far enough<\/p>\n While Anika Wells might be furious that the social media bill is going to an inquiry, she\u2019s trying to appear less fussed about the government\u2019s gambling legislation being kicked off to be examined by the Senate.<\/p>\n The Greens yesterday forced the legislation into inquiry, which will report back on 17 August (in the sitting fortnight after the winter break).<\/p>\n Wells is doing the media rounds this morning and has shuffled over to the ABC studios and is speaking to RN Breakfast.<\/p>\n One of the key concerns from critics is that the legislation does nothing to stop inducements, which are incentives such as bonus bets to keep people gambling. Wells argues the government\u2019s BetStop program addresses that.<\/p>\n And asked why the government isn\u2019t all-out banning online gambling ads from TV, Wells suggests parents should just bypass free-to-air television entirely and watch through a streamer (as they don\u2019t log in as an adult).<\/p>\n double quotation markIf you chose to watch \u2013 I don\u2019t want to name any particular given that we\u2019re on the ABC \u2013 but if you are watching the football World Cup on SBS, another public broadcaster, for example, you have the ability to opt out of seeing gambling advertising and from 1 January on streaming. And we know the trend for viewing in Australia is that more than half of the population now view these things online through streamers.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.57 EDT<\/p>\n Anika Wells criticises Coalition<\/a> and Greens for punting social media bill to inquiry<\/p>\n Anika Wells is having a crack at the opposition and Greens, accusing them of delaying the social media bill to an inquiry for examination.<\/p>\n A quick reminder: the bill doubles the penalty for platforms that breach the ban for under-16s and gives the eSafety commission more powers to compel documents from the companies.<\/p>\n Speaking on Sunrise earlier this morning, Wells accused the opposition leader, Angus Taylor, of siding with the big tech companies over kids and parents.<\/p>\n double quotation markIt is a craven and trivial decision for Angus Taylor to push this off for eight weeks \u2026 Until yesterday this was a bipartisan measure proudly vetted across the world and it\u2019s on Angus Taylor to explain why a 500-word, four-page bill needs eight weeks of inquiry.<\/p>\n Communications minister, Anika Wells. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.41 EDT<\/p>\n Government makes concession on controversial aged care assessment tool<\/p>\n The government has done a partial U-turn on its controversial aged care integrated assessment tool that critics said had no human override capability, and was being reviewed.<\/p>\n The IAT involves an assessor asking an older person questions about their physical, social and personal circumstances to determine how much government-funded home support they are eligible to receive.<\/p>\n Ahead of the IAT\u2019s launch, the Department of Health<\/a>, Disability and Ageing quietly added an algorithm to classify IAT responses and determine a funding classification. The department\u2019s user manual states that assessors must accept the IAT\u2019s classification outcome when assigning home support.<\/p>\n This has caused hundreds of complaints and requests for internal review.<\/p>\n This morning, the aged care minister, Sam Rae, who has been in hot water over the issue, has told the ABC that in limited circumstances the system will now allow some human oversight for complex cases.<\/p>\n double quotation markIn some limited circumstances, people\u2019s complex circumstances don\u2019t necessarily fit neatly into a framework. And in those small number of circumstances, we want the system governor to be able to make the necessary decisions to get the most appropriate outcomes for older people \u2026<\/p>\n We\u2019ve listened and we\u2019ve done the policy work to make sure that we get the best outcomes for older people.<\/p>\n Aged care minister, Sam Rae. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.43 EDT<\/p>\n Australia to give $2m in humanitarian assistance to Venezuela<\/p>\n The government has announced it will send $2m in humanitarian assistance to Venezuela, after it was struck by earthquakes last month.<\/p>\n The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, says the full scale of the tragedy<\/a> is still emerging, and the death told, which is already in the thousands, is expected to increase in coming days.<\/p>\n The funding, the government says, will be delivered through partners including the Red Cross and UN and will be contributed alongside other nations including the US and the UK, to provide emergency food, shelter, water, hygiene and psychosocial support.<\/p>\n In a statement, Wong said:<\/p>\n double quotation markOur thoughts are with the people of Venezuela, the Australian-Venezuelan community, and all those affected by the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela. Australia\u2019s humanitarian assistance will support access to food, shelter, medical care and other essential services.<\/p>\n Collapsed buildings in the aftermath of the 24 June earthquakes in La Guaira, Venezuela. Photograph: Marian Carrasquero\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.30 EDT<\/p>\n Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you. Thanks to Martin Farrer for getting us started.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the final sitting day of the week, but after a big Midwinter Ball<\/a> last night there might be a few wearier-than-usual eyes gracing the chambers (and the press gallery corridors).<\/p>\n The main legislative game for the government today will be gambling \u2013 with its reforms being introduced to the House today. They currently don\u2019t have anyone to pass it through the Senate, but yesterday the opposition suggested they were working with Labor and hoping to \u201cget the balance right\u201d. The Greens have also suggested they could be in talks with the Coalition<\/a> to try and force Labor\u2019s hand into making the bill stronger. We\u2019ll see how that shakes out today.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s get cracking!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.15 EDT<\/p>\n Best dressed at Canberra\u2019s Midwinter\u2019s Ball<\/p>\n It was Canberra\u2019s night of nights last night with the staging of the press gallery\u2019s Midwinter\u2019s Ball.<\/p>\n As is customary, the political classes got dressed up in their best outfits and headed out where photographers were on hand to record their fashion efforts for posterity.<\/p>\n The glamorous gathering took place under the critical eye of our own Caitlin Cassidy, who judged Labor\u2019s Anne Aly to be best on ground among the women. Aly posted to social media that she actually crocheted her own dress!<\/p>\n Labor minister Anne Aly arrives for the 2026 Midwinter Ball. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAP<\/p>\n Tanya Plibersek\u2019s husband Michael Coutts-Trotter took out Caitlin\u2019s award for the men with his defiantly non-black jacket.<\/p>\n Tanya Plibersek and husband Michael Coutts-Trotter. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAP<\/p>\n Check out our gallery here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.12 EDT<\/p>\n Taiwanese man charged over people-smuggling operation<\/p>\n A Taiwanese man has been charged over a failed people-smuggling operation that left campers startled when they saw a boat carrying foreign nationals land on a remote beach, Australian Associated Press reports.<\/p>\n The newly arrived group stunned holidaymakers when they were spotted on a far north Queensland beach before visiting a local bakery and being apprehended near a pub, the Cook MP, David Kempton, said.<\/p>\n About 12 people \u2013 believed to Chinese \u2013 arrived by boat at a remote camping spot before travelling to nearby Weipa on the Cape York Peninsula early on Tuesday.<\/p>\n A 34-year-old Taiwanese national was arrested in a supermarket car park at Weipa on Tuesday after a report of suspicious activity in the area.<\/p>\n Police have since charged the man with one count of aggravated offence of people-smuggling involving at least five people.<\/p>\n He was remanded in custody after facing the Cairns magistrates court on yesterday before his next appearance today.<\/p>\n The man faces up to 20 years\u2019 imprisonment if found guilty.<\/p>\n Another man, 30, was also detained by police pending further inquiries.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.59 EDT<\/p>\n Progressive patriotism underpinning defence strategy: Conroy The minister for defence industry, Pat Conroy, says strong national defence and a strong industry to provide the equipment required for protecting Australia is part of the government\u2019s \u201cprogressive patriotism\u201d.<\/p>\n Conroy will address the National Press Club in Canberra today, making the case that Labor, and not the Coalition<\/a>, is the true party of defence and national security.<\/p>\n The speech will coincide with the release of the 2026 Defence Industry Development Strategy and details of the government\u2019s defence reform process. Already it has been reported that Conroy will point to nearly $30bn in wasteful spending on \u00addefence projects. An audit found the \u00adaverage cost of a small sample of projects increased by nearly 40%, or $29bn, before contracts were finalised.<\/p>\n Conroy will say.<\/p>\n double quotation markProgressive patriotism, in the eyes of the Albanese government \u2013 and the great labour movement \u2013 is confidence in, and celebration of, what our national project has built<\/p>\n It is confidence in how it is evolving, and confidence in the future. Strong defence of our country \u2013 including the need to invest in our defence industry, people and systems \u2013 is a critical part of understanding what Australian progressive patriotism looks like today.<\/p>\n Building our defence industry, delivering the capabilities we need, is an investment in our country and offers the further dividend of deterrence to protect what our great national project has built.<\/p>\n We will bring you more on the speech at lunchtime today.<\/p>\n![\"Aged](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3071.jpg\")
Aged care minister, Sam Rae. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Krishani](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Krishani_Dhanji.png\")
Krishani Dhanji<\/p>\n![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Tom_McIlroy.png\")
Tom McIlroy<\/p>\n