Centrelink staff outraged at minister's attack

BY JIM McILROY

BRISBANE -- Union members in Centrelink offices around the country are outraged at attempts by family and community services minister Jocelyn Newman to blame them for GST-related problems in the federal government's family assistance payments.

In reply to Labor claims that some families had suffered cuts in social security payments as part of the GST deal, Newman said on July 12, “Any reduced payments are a mistake and the fault of Centrelink staff”. The minister went on to tell an ABC interviewer, “Sometimes Centrelink people can make mistakes and I would like to have it looked at the most senior level”.

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has called for the minister to publicly apologise to all Centrelink workers. It points out that payment rates and policies are set by the government, not by Centrelink workers, and that the minister has presided over 5000 job cuts in the department. Centrelink workers should be congratulated, rather than criticised, for the job they've done, the union said.

A CPSU bulletin states: “The timing of the public attack is highly questionable given that we are on the eve of the release of the government's report on welfare reform ... could it be that the government has something nasty in store for Centrelink?”

Centrelink workers have threatened to do none of the overtime on week nights and Saturdays that has been forced on them by widespread failures in the computer system and other problems related to the families package.

Despite Newman's attempt at damage control (she sent a message to Centrelink staff thanking them “for all their hard work and professionalism”), she faces the possibility of further action by Centrelink workers.

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