Good news for Centrelink customers
Rarely do you see the words, “good news” used in a sentence that also includes the word “Centrelink”, but the often-beleaguered government department delivered some good news for Australians who use the service.
ABC News reports the Federal Government has announced it will be hiring an additional 1,000 call centre operators to help deal with extensive waiting times.
Human Services Minister Michael Keenan said the change was a long time coming.
"We want to make sure that when you deal with the Government you get the best possible service," he said.
"The decision to outsource jobs to private providers is a growing trend among government departments."
However, Labor MP Linda Burney said privacy was still a big concern.
"In the last budget they announced 250 Serco workers who are in very different conditions to the rest of Centrelink staff and their training is totally inadequate.
"Centrelink is absolutely on its knees. What the Government would be better off doing is making the 42 per cent of Centrelink staff who are casualised, permanent.”
Mr Keenan also added he’d eventually like to push more people online.
"Over time I hope that our digital channels will get a lot better so people will go online, we are investing heavily to make that happen," Mr Keenan said.
"But in the meantime we are putting this very big investment into extra call centre capacity and people calling in will notice a far better experience."
What are your thoughts?