Amongst ongoing political calls for the suspension of Centrelink’s online compliance system, Tasmania’s community support sector has united to increase on-the-ground support for welfare recipients who are struggling to pay, dispute or understand ‘debt letters’ received from Centrelink.
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The Tasmanian Council of Social Service, Community Legal Centres Tasmania, Relationships Australia, the Salvation Army, Mission Australia, Anglicare and the Mental Health Council of Tasmania announced on Saturday that they were “pooling funds” of $12,000 to provide increased support from Monday at Hobart and Launceston.
“We’ve all put some funds together so that the Community Legal Centres can increase the capacity of their welfare rights officer to be able to see more people,” TasCOSS chief executive Kym Goodes said.
Ms Goodes said the combined funding will also assist community service organisations to “be ready for any emotional or counselling support needed”.
“We’re really concerned by the number of Tasmanians who have been impacted by the Centerlink debt fiasco, and how many of them are telling us they don’t feel they have the capacity to defend themselves,” she said.
“TasCOSS are getting phone calls from individuals who are saying ‘we just want to let you know this has happened but we can’t defend ourselves, we feel completely defeated’.
“To not provide adequate support at a personal level … is a breach of duty of care by the government.”
Ms Goodes said that TasCOSS and the community sector had received “well over 100” calls from Tasmanians dealing with letters from Centrelink’s online compliance system in the last six weeks, but that was “just the tip of the iceberg”.
“How long will [the federal government] continue to ignore what is a growing evidence base of multiple errors affecting multiple Tasmanians?” Ms Goodes said.
“Our goal in the next few days it to let all Tasmanians know, if you do need help or advice or support, the community legal centres will be able to help you.”
Ms Goodes further said the community services sector feels “let down” by the federal government as Centrelink’s online compliance system continues to send out letters.
“We are shocked that the breach of duty of care by the government has not been addressed, and we feel let down at this point that this has continued for so long without any recognition that they've got it wrong,” she said.
“We need them to admit an error and suspend the program until the error can be looked into.”
Colony 47 chief executive Danny Sutton said the follow-on impact of debt collection was beginning to be felt as the impacts on personal credit ratings leave people struggling to secure rental accommodation.
Federal Human Services Minister Alan Tudge said on Thursday that people had three opportunities to correct a discrepancy, and that it was “very reasonable to ask them to take a little time to go online and clarify their information.”
“This is the system as it was designed to work,” Mr Tudge said.
“The government will continue to refine the process, including by making changes to ensure that people have received the first request for information.”
Acting Human Services Minister Rene Hidding said the Tasmanian government is concerned by the issue.
“The Tasmanian Government is very concerned by the situation and urges the Federal Government and Centrelink to resolve the issue as a matter of priority,” Mr Hidding said.
To access the extended support services, Tasmanians with a Centrelink letter can call 6223 2500 or 6334 1577 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
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