Aged care algorithm and Snowy Hydro costs threaten Albanese’s legacy

An opinion writer argues that two major policy problems could overshadow the failed Voice referendum as legacies of the Albanese government: flaws in the automated system that allocates aged care support, and the escalating cost of Snowy Hydro 2.0. The article says the cases expose a gap between political promises and delivery, with vulnerable older people bearing the consequences of decisions they may struggle to challenge.

The Commonwealth Ombudsman has criticised the aged care assessment algorithm’s fairness, transparency and correction process; the government says a human review pathway is due in January, with an independent review expected next year. Snowy Hydro 2.0, promoted at an initial estimate of about $2 billion, could cost $25 billion and is expected to become fully operational in three years. The piece is commentary, and presents these developments as evidence of policy and administrative failure.