500 signatures reached
To: Michael Keenan, Human Services Minister
Introduce Adequately Staffed, Free call Centrelink Number
Social security recipients cannot contact Centrelink, and when they do, it costs them a fortune. Now Centrelink have started hanging up on people who call the Newstart line.
This is a clear indication of this government's approach to the those on social security: they do not want to hear what we have to say.
Michael Keenan, as the human services Minister, you could fix this problem by introducing a free call Centrelink number that is adequately staffed and offers call backs to people in the queue. Other departments do this. Why can't Centrelink?
Why is this important?
In 2016, there were over 53 million failed calls to Centrelink.
The Centrelink Newstart line is engaged most of the day, which means it is actually impossible for unemployed workers to contact Centrelink.
This is outrageous. As a result of this system, those on social security system are unable to call up to report, change circumstances, resolve a suspension, or just ask a question.
Social security recipients deserve respect. The least the Government can do is listen to what we have to say.