MEDICARE AND CENTRELINK WAITING TIME ISSUES FOR RIVERINA AND CENTRAL WEST RESIDENTS IGNORED

Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack is demanding the Albanese Labor Government stop ignoring the excessive delays residents across the Riverina and Central West are facing when trying to access services and payments from Services Australia.

“Over the past few months my office has received many calls and emails complaining about excessive wait times and sometimes even the impossibility for constituents to get into contact with Services Australia,” Mr McCormack said.

“Services Australia is an organisation every single Australian will have to interact with at some point in their life, often during their most challenging times.

“It is simply unacceptable that Australians cannot access this vital service, particularly during this cost-of-living crisis.”

In June, Coalition MPs and Senators asked Government Services Minister Bill Shorten how long Australians were having to wait to receive government payments.

Mr Shorten responded to the questions by saying, “Services Australia does not collate or record data by electorate.”

However, Questions in Writing obtained by the Opposition for the previous Parliament, reveal that Services Australia does in fact use electorate-level data and that this data was provided to Labor MPs when the Coalition was in Government.

Mr McCormack said the move to block the release of the Medicare and Centrelink data didn’t pass the pub test and has since raised concerns over call wait times and difficulties for constituents to access the essential service.

“I’ve received a letter from the Albanese Government acknowledging the issue of excessive wait times, however, all I’ve been offered is excuses and no solutions,” Mr McCormack said.

“Good government focuses on improving services and fixing problems when they become aware of them.

“This simply isn’t happening in the Albanese Labor Government.

“It’s no secret that Services Australia’s staffing is being cut while our population surges.

“It just doesn’t make sense. How can Labor think it’s a good idea to cut our services while demand increases?”

Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy Paul Fletcher said Mr Shorten was a serial offender when it came to trying to avoid accountability.

“Under Mr Shorten, every question ever asked of him during Senate Estimates has been answered past the due date,” Mr Fletcher said.

“In May this year, the Speaker had to formally write to the Minister because formal Questions in Writing were left unanswered for more than 60 days.”