The Centrelink Saga Has Somehow Gotten Even Worse
New "deeply concerning" allegations have emerged.
As impossible as it sounds, the Centrelink debt fiasco has spiralled even further out of control.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie, who has been calling on the government to halt the automatic debt recovery system, today published evidence from Centrelink whistleblowers documenting damning flaws in the debt recovery process.
Wilkie has written to the Commonwealth Ombudsman detailing claims from Centrelink employees.
According to the allegations, some customers who call Centrelink and report feeling suicidal are being transferred to casual workers without training in suicide prevention instead of being referred to social workers.
Whistleblowers also reported that there has been “little to no training” regarding the debt recovery program and staff are being encouraging to get through complaints as quickly as possible by not “looking too closely at complex cases”.
Wilkie said that he was “deeply concerned” by the allegations.
Centrelink has been sending out thousands of false debt notice letters since late last year. Despite the fact that the notices are negatively impacting current and former welfare recipients, who are being accused of withholding money and threatened with jail, Alan Tudge, the social services minister has said “the system is working”.
Live footage from Alan Tudge’s office.
The Commonwealth Ombudsman has announced he will be investigating the debacle, despite the government’s assurances that everything is fine.
A poll released this morning showed more than 40 percent of Australians wanted the automated debt recovery system to be shut down.